The prize was presented at a ceremony at Camden Town Hall on 26 September 2017. The Mayor, Cllr Richard Cotton, who was also one of the judges, said ‘Camden in Bloom showcases the horticultural creativity of our borough and the results are simply beautiful. The entries were all brilliant.’
The entrance garden and walled garden at Cecil Sharp House have both been planned and developed by Permablitz London, in partnership with the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
Kayode Olafimihan (Coordinator of the Cecil Sharp House Permaculture Garden project, founder of Permablitz London and Chair of the London Permaculture Network) said ‘This is brilliant news! Thank you to everyone who has helped make our Permaculture Learning and Demonstration Garden at Cecil Sharp House such a beautiful and useful space.’
Katy Spicer, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, said ‘We are delighted that the hard work of our volunteer gardeners has again been recognised with this prestigious award. Our beautiful outdoor spaces are packed with wildlife, fragrance and colour, and their continuing development brings daily pleasure to all of us here.’
About Cecil Sharp House
The Grade II listed Cecil Sharp House was purpose-built as the permanent headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society and opened in 1930. An award-winning arts centre, the venue hosts a busy programme of performances and education events for all ages. It is also the home of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, England’s national folk music and dance archive. Cecil Sharp House, on the border between Camden Town and Primrose Hill, stands at the junction of Regent’s Park Road and Gloucester Avenue.
About the garden
The low-maintenance ecological garden is in keeping with the folk ethos of Cecil Sharp House, with apple trees (central to the English folk tradition) and a large number of other edible plants. This multi-functional showcase permaculture garden was established by Permablitz London, who implement reciprocal edible garden makeovers and run a community garden hub. This year the garden’s Working with Nature outdoor classroom has introduced over 350 volunteers to organic gardening and to permaculture design, and over 100 school-children have been involved in educational activities. Further annual events include the London Permaculture Festival, which attracts around 700 people. The garden is enjoyed every day by the many visitors to Cecil Sharp House, and is popular with hirers of the venue for weddings and parties. It was designed by Kayode Olafimihan, who also coordinates the garden’s integrated education and maintenance programme with Head Gardener Susannah Hall and a team of volunteers.
