Valentines Park Forest Garden
Half Term Activities
Its Autumn 2025 now, and we had a great summer:
-A Festival in June
-Some children’s activities in the School holidays and
-The Picnic organised by our Growing Food, Growing Friends project on the last day of August.
Our Friday morning sessions are continuing weekly and these are open to everyone.
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.
It’s a space to:
- Grow food in harmony with nature
- Support biodiversity and climate resilience
- Rest, play, and connect with nature
- Learn, create, and gather as a community
Once an underused corner of the park, since 2020 it’s blossomed into a much-loved part of local life — for walkers, picnickers, school groups, artists, and anyone looking to slow down and enjoy nature.
The Forest Garden is our outdoor community centre!
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
In 2024 alone, over 1,300 child hours were spent learning and playing in the garden!
Creative Projects in the Garden
We call it an “outdoor community centre” for a reason — the Forest Garden is a hub for art, creativity, and celebration.
Colours of Redbridge
Join our open-air watercolour sessions for adults, led by local artist Brenda Coyle. No experience needed — we provide all the materials!
Forest Garden Sculpture
In partnership with Yes Make, we created a community sculpture carved by local schools, groups, and individuals.
The sculpture was launched at our 2025 Forest Garden Festival. Come and visit 🙂
Forest Garden Festival 2025
Saturday 21 June
A joyful day of music, food, nature activities, and the unveiling of our new sculpture!
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.
We’ve hosted:
- Forest School sessions with Seven Kings Primary and home education groups
- Birdwatching and bat surveys
- Live performances, art workshops, and seasonal festivals
- And much more!
Watch our Forest Garden videos on YouTube
Stay Connected
Email us: ilfordtransition@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
Drop by on a Friday morning from 10–12
Check our notice board in the park for updates
Why We Love It
“It’s like a little oasis where everyone slows down. I always leave feeling better.”
— Local visitor, age 9
Let’s grow something beautiful together.
