London,
03
June
2008
|
23:00
Europe/London

Hackney gardens welcome the Speaker

GREEN-fingered Hackney folk opened their gardens for charity on Sunday, and welcomed a very special guest.

Cllr Ian Rathbone, Speaker of Hackney, visited gardens in Lower Clapton to see the fruits of residents’ labour.

He said: “I was pleased to see the way the different garden space in these homes has been used to create a beautiful place of quietness, and a world away from all that is inner city Hackney.

"If only more people would take care of their gardens in this way, it would mean a cleaner atmosphere.”

Cllr Rathbone also congratulated residents Philip Lightowlers, Rose Greenwood and Annie Moloney for all their hard work

Tea, cakes as well as plants were on sale during the open day, organised as part of the National Gardens Scheme, and two given to the Speaker as gifts will shortly take up residence in his parlour at the Town Hall.

The National Gardens Scheme is a charity which fundraises each year for nursing, caring and gardening charities. Garden owners charge a small entrance fee which goes to the scheme. There are some 3,600 gardens in the NGS scheme, details of which are available on the website www.ngs.org.uk