Tucked away just a short walk from Angel, Culpeper Community Garden is one of Islington’s hidden gems, “a little oasis in the city”. Open to the public every day, the award-winning space is both a city park and an environmental community project, managed by local people. Behind its high walls are community plots, wildlife areas, ponds, a rose walk and spaces where residents learn, grow and connect. The garden relies heavily on volunteers, whose time, skills and enthusiasm keep it blooming.  

Thanks to council funding, Culpeper has recently been able to provide training, create new planters, and arrange key maintenance, helping the garden continue to grow. 

Oscar

Oscar has been volunteering at the gardens for two years, using his creative skills to help bring the space to life.

Ben

Local artist Ben has volunteered at Culpeper for 13 years but admits he lived nearby for a decade before realising it even existed. For him, the garden is about far more than plants. 

“It’s about the community as much as it is about the garden,” he says. 

Ben speaks passionately about the role Culpeper plays in bringing people together, particularly those who may be isolated or disadvantaged. He says the garden was especially important during the pandemic, giving people a sense of community and somewhere to spend time outdoors.

Visitors arrive from local schools, neighbourhood organisations and across Islington. “It’s not clearly defined who is a visitor,” Ben explains. “There’s something really fluid about it.” 

Like many volunteers, he has formed lasting friendships through the garden and says seeing the diversity of people involved continues to inspire him. 

Mandy – Culpeper’s manager

Born in Scotland, Mandy’s journey into horticulture began during the 1980s when she was looking for a new direction. 

She completed an apprenticeship at Highgate Cemetery before gaining experience on Hampstead Heath, building the skills that would shape her career. 

Today, Mandy continues to share that expertise and passion with volunteers and visitors at Culpeper, helping ensure the garden remains a welcoming space for everyone. 

At Culpeper, the can-do spirit of saying “yes” to new ideas and donations is helping it thrive. They rarely turn down donations of materials. Recently, someone gave a collection of terracotta pots which quickly found a home among the colourful mosaics. 

Since April, Culpeper has raised around £12,500 through donations, events and venue hire. The space is now regularly booked for weddings and community celebrations, generating vital income that can be reinvested into the garden.  

Mandy encourages people to enquire and book this truly unique, ideally located event space at reasonable rates, to help secure the garden’s future.  

Fancy volunteering, donating or hiring the garden for an event?