One for all

A new community garden designed by Sarah Price around an old library turned arts centre in southeast London is a treasured space for local residents and garden lovers alike

- JODIE JONES

"It is no surprise to learn that the garden at The Exchange, with its painterly combinations of Elaeagnus 'Quicksilver, Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis' and Benton irises, set off by mellow, handmade brick pavers and stylishly rusted corrugated fences, was designed by plant whisperer Sarah Price. What is almost impossible to believe is that this exceptional exercise in high horticulture is a freely accessible community garden in the southeast London suburb of Erith. And then the number 99 bus thunders past, and two worlds collide.

In 2016, all you would have seen from that bus window was a boarded-up library surrounded by brambles and rubbish. But then local residents Peter Nutley and Sarah Batten asked the council if they had any plans to regenerate the site. "Our timing was perfect," says Peter. "The council was looking for a local organisation to take over the space, and we had always daydreamed about turning it into a community arts space." Having previously worked for the Churches Conservation Trust, Sarah had professional experience of comparable regeneration projects, while Peter had an arts background and six years as head technician at the Garden Museum under his belt.

Together, they had the perfect combination of skills to turn their vision into reality, and the council snapped up their proposal.

"It still wasn't easy," says Peter. "With limited funding, we had to phase the work while applying for more grants, but we always knew we wanted to create a destination garden that would bring new people into the area, as well as enhance the lives of those who were already here." They also knew which designer they wanted for the job. "I'd worked with Sarah at the Garden Museum and loved her aesthetic, but I was still surprised when she replied to my email," says Peter.