When the old Gillespie Park allotments closed, British Rail - which owned the land - sold off the freehold. Neighbours contested the plans, and British Rail ended up selling its freehold to Islington Council. The land was then divided between Gillespie Park, the Parkland Walk, Quill Street Allotments and a social housing development.
Quill Street Allotments is a working organic fruit and vegetable site growing all sorts on relatively small plots, including rhubarb, figs, chard, chives, beans, cabbage, rocket, gooseberries, herbs, dahlias, irises, sweet peas and roses.
Allotment Association Chair: Sonia Cooper
Visitor Information
Open
Saturday 12:00–16:00
Entrance
From Arsenal station turn left and take the first left into St Thomas's Road. Quill Street allotments are the first left on Quill Street on the right-hand side, opposite the entrance to Gillespie Park. Nearest postcode: N4 2AE
Garden not fully accessible to wheelchair users.
The site is not accessible for wheelchair users, with eight stairs to reach the middle path. Paths are narrow and uneven.
A silver medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show 2024, the garden was relocated to Freedom from Torture's London Therapy Centre, where it is being used for horticultural and other therapies for survivors of torture. Guides available. Refreshments.
The nature gardens were set up at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic on semi-derelict locked spaces on the Highbury Quadrant Estate, with the aim of establishing three new thriving community gardens; the Meadow, the Woodland Garden and the Orchard.
Community garden located on a former railway embankment. Features include a lawn, herbaceous borders, extensive woodland, an orchard, wildflower meadow, a wildlife pond, fruit and vegetable growing, and a greenhouse.
Once a derelict sports pitch, now a community growing space. Seeks to address climate change and benefit the community by growing food and sharing surpluses, managing soil, and harvesting water.
