Forest Garden – Transition Town Ilford

Valentines Park Forest Garden

Our Friday morning sessions run weekly and these are open to everyone.

Friday mornings 10am-12pm

What is the Forest Garden?

The Forest Garden in Valentines Park, Ilford, is a thriving permaculture space created and cared for by volunteers from Transition Town Ilford. This is the google pin location.

It’s a space to:

Grow food in harmony with nature
Support biodiversity and climate resilience
Connect with and enjoy nature
Connect with, gather, enjoy as a community space

Please do remember to only pick and touch the plants you KNOW are safe. Some plants could be posionous.

How You Can Get Involved

Everyone’s welcome — whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just curious.

Weekly Gardening Sessions – Every Friday, 10am–12pm
Occasional Weekend Workdays – Follow us on socials for dates
Community Events – Held during half terms and school holidays
School or Group Visits – Contact us to chat about the best times, resources, and group guidelines

Many local Primary Schools are now using the Forest Garden, kick started by the Forest School sessions we have raised funding for.

The Garden in Action

Our Forest Garden is designed like a woodland edge — with layers of fruit trees, shrubs, perennial vegetables, and herbs planted in “guilds” that support each other and the soil. We use natural materials like cardboard, woodchip, and logs, and design with shade and drought in mind.

We’re currently developing a butterfly wildlife area right next to the garden.

Once established, the garden will be low-maintenance and even more welcoming to local wildlife and visitors.