MORE THAN JUST AN ALLOTMENT

Garden writer Dan Heighes takes a tour of The Regent's Park Allotment Garden, which is managed by London's food growing network, Capital Growth

-  Dan Heighe

Nestled peacefully between Capel Manor College and St John's Lodge Gardens you will find The Regent's Park Allotment Garden. This surprising haven of tranquillity in the heart of the hustle and bustle of NW London combines growing and learning with the community at its heart.

Although not a particularly large-scale allotment, once you cross the threshold you would be forgiven for thinking you were in the middle of the countryside and not one of London's Royal Parks.

The Regent's Park is named after the Prince Regent, sometimes known as the playboy prince', who later became King George IV (1762-1830). The Regent's Park is one of London's eight Royal Parks and covers an area of 395 acres. So to have a small slice of this stunning historical park made into allotments for the community is a fantastic initiative.

Capital Growth is London's food growing network. It has more than 2000 gardens throughout the city and The Regent's Park Allotment Garden is managed by Capital Growth, with support from a team of dedicated volunteers. They run this in partnership with The Royal Parks and Capel Manor College. More than just an allotment, it is also a wildflower paradise, a base for learning and a demonstration centre. It supports and nurtures a wide variety of people to grow food on allotments, in the home or as part of a wider network of community groups and ventures.

LEARNING AND TRAINING

This centre provides a learning and demonstration area which hosts children from local schools. They come by in the spring and summer to learn about the science of plants and the wildlife this sustains.