Repurposing pocket park brings joy to local youth centre

In summer 2024, CDA, with the support of the Islington Greener Together Officers, found a new home to repurpose Pocket Park planters. 

CDA opened its first pocket park in summer 2023, in collaboration with local businesses and Islington Council’s Pocket Park Framework. This summer, as the pocket park trial came to an end, it was time to give this temporary park a brand-new home! 

Lift Youth Hub, partially funded by Islington Council and managed by Isldeon Arts CIC, is a former Victorian school, which hosts meetings and training sessions. The venue is well equipped with a gym, dance studio, roof terrace and both indoor and outdoor kitchens; all used by young people aged 13 – 21. Young people can use Lift’s facilities for support with apprenticeships, college applications, CVs, job seeking and volunteering. 

CDA identified Lift as a perfect new home for the pocket park; transporting these planters from Clerkenwell Close to White Lion Street.  

On their arrival in July, the Lift team refreshed the planters, adding worm castings and nutrition to the soil. The structures were renovated and stained black by the young people on a woodwork summer course with Global Generation.

The local community also pooled finances together to purchase vegetable seedlings, which were planted by young people on Lift’s SEND project, who will continue to look after them, weeding and watering everyday, as they grow through the autumn. 

After their success in their new location, Lift plan to expand the number of planters and the vegetable growing project next year, which will coincide with new planting at Godson Street. They are also planning to apply for the National Lottery Awards for All, to build more planters, including wheelchair accessible raised structures.  

CDA was delighted to gift the Pocket Park planters to Lift and support their amazing work to help future generations.  

Judith, Andie & Damien from Lift commented: “Since receiving the planters that were donated and then painted by young people, the excitement of planting vegetables was received very well.  The young people from our SEND programme were able with planting herbs and vegetables, they expressed the freedom of using their hands in the earth and having fun learning how to plant seeds.  This was very good for their motor skills and attention span. The young people that were doing the outdoor catering in the outside kitchen said they cannot wait to start planting food they can eat.” 

Suman Marygiri, CDA’s Public Realm Project Manager, led on the project: “The Clerkenwell Close planters were a great example of green infrastructure transforming an under-utilised parking space into a welcoming green resting area for local businesses and residents. CDA are delighted these planters have now found a new purpose as an outdoor vegetable garden at the Lift community hub, supporting the local community. This demonstrates how planting can be used in various creative ways to bring people together.” 

If you’d like to find out more about this project or other CDA projects, please email us at info@centraldistrictallaince.com