Hackney Council has supported the Friends of Kynaston Gardens in securing £84,000 to improve this cherished little green space in Stoke Newington.

The new designs include community food growing beds that will be used by local people and the school, wild flowers to improve biodiversity and new play features for younger visitors to the garden.

Work on improving the garden is set to start in early September and will continue until around October, the gardens will be closed throughout and will reopen once the gardens transformation is complete.  

The gardens, in Stoke Newington, are owned and managed by Hackney Council and by working in partnership with Groundwork and the Friends of Kynaston Gardens, an exciting opportunity arose to transform this area of the borough through funding from different sources. The gardens had in the past suffered from anti-social behaviour and street drinking and were in need of a facelift to bring them back into community use.

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture said: "Kynaston Gardens is set to become another of Hackney’s little green treasures. The volunteers who care for this are doing a great job and this project shows what can be achieved when the Council and the community work together.”

Matt Dillon from the Friends of Kynaston Gardens said: "We are still looking for volunteers to help with the community gardening, and we would love to hear from anyone who is interested in getting involved and having fun by email at kynastongardens@gmail.com"

Wendy Jenkins, programmes director at Groundwork UK, which manages Community Spaces, said: "It's heartening to see that the initial funding from Community Spaces has been followed up by grants from other sources.

"Partnerships like this can make a huge difference to community projects and I am sure the hard work of the Friends of Kynaston Garden will see the creation of a valuable community resource."

For more information about Hackney’s award winning parks visit http://www.hackney.gov.uk/parks

Initially the group was awarded £48,225 from Groundwork UK and the Big Lottery Fund’s Community Spaces programme. Earlier this year a further £31,000 grant was given from the Bank of America and £5000 from the Veolia Environmental Trust. Hackney Council will continue to work closely with all involved throughout the to implement the improvements that will benefit the local community.

Anyone interested in joining the Friends of Kynaston Gardens can contact the Secretary Matt Dillon at kynastongardens@gmail.com

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