Volunteer and visit us

Come to our Open Garden, or volunteer with us, 10am – 4pm, on Tuesdays and on the third Saturday in the month.  Walk in our woodland and enjoy tea and biscuits in the garden. Families welcome. Just drop in. 

Open Days and Volunteer Gardening sessions:

Tuesday 4 August – Open Garden and Volunteer Gardening – 10am – 4pm

Tuesday 11 August – Open Garden and Volunteer Gardening – 10am – 4pm

Saturday 15 August – Open Garden and Volunteer Gardening – 10am – 4pm

Tuesday 18 August – Open Garden and Volunteer Gardening – 10am – 4pm

Tuesday 25 August – Open Garden and Volunteer Gardening – 10am – 4pm

The garden house is available to book for parties and meetings

New memberships are available for the year ending 31st August 2027

A two-acre oasis of greenery in Islington, north London.

Over time, a herbaceous garden, an orchard, a small wildflower meadow, a wildlife pond, extensive vegetable terraces and an acre of woodland have all emerged from a railway embankment.

To celebrate our 40th Anniversary in 2026 we have written a short history Olden Community Garden – our History

Under an agreement with Islington Council which owns the land, the volunteer-run Charity – Olden Community Garden – maintains the garden, with the object to promote a community garden for the benefit of people living or working in the London Borough of Islington. Olden Community Garden gives local people opportunities for education and recreation, with the aim of increasing involvement in the community and reducing isolation.

A self-sustaining garden

We use harvested water, we compost all the green waste and create wildlife habitats from woody debris.  We promote biodiversity throughout the garden and woodland.

Latest Posts

Volunteers needed on Saturday 19 June

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Come along to our volunteer workday – make new friends and join us for a coffee. We need more volunteers!

As a volunteer at our workdays you do not need to be a member. And gardening experience is not necessary; our volunteer gardeners will guide you. We will be open from 10am – 4pm.

Please remember to wear suitable shoes and to bring your own gloves; disposable gloves will be available. Our accessible toilet will be open. If you have any questions, or to let us know you or a friend might be interested, email oldengarden1@gmail.com

Our lawn

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We have laid new turf on a damaged section of the lawn, leaving an area for new planting and a space for new paving to be laid in the autumn.

Olden Garden brings musical comedy to the Chelsea Fringe

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In celebration of the Chelsea Fringe 2021, we filmed two special musical events in Olden Garden. ‘Air on a G-string’ is a musical comedy, with a rap celebrating the Chelsea Fringe, played by Kate Shortt on her cello in our garden and greenhouse and in front of the graffiti. ‘The Swan’ is a beautiful cello solo from ‘Carnival of the Animals’ and also played by Kate Shortt. These online events continue our tradition of marking the Chelsea Fringe with a musical celebration.

With thanks for our grants from

Islington Council’s Community Chest

Awarded National Lottery Funding

Developed in 1986 by Patricia
Tawn and supported by Islington Council