The Bethnal Green Nature Reserve is a cultural institute dedicated to ecological research and community learning in the heart of East London.
They host an annual residency for researchers across the humanities, architecture, and the sciences. The site includes a medicine garden, a mushroom farm, urban woodlands and wetlands, as well as a newly completed food and ecology garden beside the Reserve.
Originally a World War II bomb site, this space has been cared for since 1977 by local residents, volunteers, staff, trustees, and its many non-human inhabitants. The Nature Reserve supports a delicate and complex ecosystem of plants, bats, birds, trees, soil, fungi, amphibians, insects, invertebrates, and mammals — including people.
Visitor Information
Open
Saturday 11:00–17:00
Activities
Explore the mosaic of urban habitats at the Bethnal Green Nature Reserve, a vibrant example of inner-city nature. Enjoy activities such as picking herbs in the medicine garden, learning about mycelium in the mushroom farm, and meeting local residents who help care for the site.
Garden presents challenges for visitors with limited mobility.
The site is step-free and wheelchair accessible. There is a very comfortable wheelchair-accessible compost toilet and baby changing facilities. Visitors should note that they do use wood-chip on the pathways, which may be difficult for wheelchairs.
Approach Gardens is an award-winning, resident-led community food garden in East London. The site brings together diverse neighbours to grow food, share knowledge, and care for 40+ raised beds, a wildlife pond, orchard, composting area and beehive.
Celebrated 15 award-winning years as a resident-run community food garden in 2024. A beautiful jewel in the heart of a council estate, managed and cared for entirely by volunteers.
Community garden with 40 species of tree and 161 species of plants. The Trust runs an organic food growing programme, composts all organic waste and supports community composting. During the Spring and summer it hosts activities and events.
Community-created and run garden on land leased to the community by TfL. A space of calm, peace and recreation of benefit for plants, wildlife and local people. Free workshops led by local gardeners on each day.
Activities for kids.
