St Mary’s Secret Garden re-opens – months after shock closure

Volunteers can get the physical and mental health benefits of gardening. Photograph: St Mary’s Secret Garden

A “cherished” garden which suddenly closed last winter has re-opened its doors for two days a week following a funding crisis last year.

The charity that runs St Mary’s Secret Garden, a hidden gem which has been nestled in south Hackney for more than three decades, made the shock announcement in December 2024 that it was likely to permanently shut as the organization had been forced to declare insolvency.

But following a steady grassroots effort over recent months, the garden has been re-opened for two days of the week thanks to the stewardship of dedicated volunteers who “started from scratch” in the wake of the closure.

The garden is open on Wednesday and Thursday only – for now. Photograph: St Mary’s Secret Garden

Hackney City Farm also stepped in and shared a business plan with the Town Hall, with the aim of ensuring the space stayed in locals’ hands.

“We got involved because the garden matters to Hackney,” said Chris Pounds, the farm’s manager. “It’s not just a green space, it’s a vital asset that brings people together. Our goal was to make sure it stayed that way.”

Organic principles are used in maintaining the site and to encourage wildlife and biodiversity within the garden

Kirsten Moore, who leads community development for St Mary’s, said Hackney City Farm had developed a business plan for the garden, shared its corporate volunteers groups and helped secure grant funding from the City Bridge Foundation.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that organisers were taking a phased approach while they build up a viable model, with the hope that they can, in time, open for more days of the week.

St Mary’s Secret Garden closed late last year after the charity declared insolvency. Photograph: St Mary’s Secret Garden

Officially launching in 2006, the horticultural charity has offered gardening activities to residents and marginalised groups, such as those with mental ill-health, learning disabilities or long-term illness.

After the charity unexpectedly announced imminent closure last year, locals launched an e-petition urging the council to act “decisively”.

Devoted supporters praised St Mary’s for “fostering a greener, healthier, and more cohesive community, offering a lifeline to many who relied on its programs and serene environment”.

Visitors welcome at St Mary’s Secret Garden

Though Hackney Council said it could not stump up the money to avoid closure, Ms Moore said the Town Hall gave them 12 to 18 months to come up with a long-term plan.

“A lot of this involves finding ways to diversify the garden’s income so it’s not just reliant on grants,” she added. In the meantime, this income generation involves selling plants, worm fertiliser, and jams from the site.

When funding collapsed last November, the charity’s former CEO Paula Yassine said the council had given the garden roughly £3,600 a year over three decades.

St Mary’s Secret Garden is now open on Wednesdays and Thursdays every week.

Visitors are welcome to visit, to “explore what’s growing”.

The garden is hosting a harvest-themed community open day on Saturday 25 October 25.

Ms Moore said this will give people a chance to come and share what they missed about the garden, and for organisers to find out how they can make it more enjoyable for the community.

St Mary’s Secret Garden
50 Pearson Street
Hackney
E2 8EL