Making Space for Sustainability in London
By Katherine Graci (3/30/25) — London, UK
As spring approaches in London, more and more people will spend time in the city’s many green spaces. London is the world’s first National Park City, as it is almost half green and blue. The Calthorpe Community Garden is one of these green spaces in London, located between my dorm and the famous King’s Cross Station.
A self-proclaimed “urban oasis,” Calthorpe is more than just a garden for walks and scenic views; it promotes sustainable living and connection to the community. Calthorpe’s SEED philosophy is made up of four pillars: sports, education, environment, and diversity. This philosophy guides the garden in creating activities and opportunities for the local community.
S is for Sports and Sustainability
Sports at Calthorpe combine fun and well-being. The garden offers activities for people of all ages and abilities, from children’s football (or soccer) games to beginner Tai Chi sessions. Calthorpe recognizes the health and social importance of exercise and goes the extra mile by providing healthy snacks and food from ingredients grown in the garden itself!
Starting Early on Sustainability
Calthorpe provides a lot of resources and opportunities for the young children in the community, demonstrating its third pillar, education. The garden is open to everyone, but many of the facilities are geared towards children with the Early Years play space and other fun playground structures. A significant part of education at Calthorpe is education through volunteering, which encourages a community and sustainability-oriented mindset early on. Volunteering often involves gardening, where students can get in touch with nature and learn about sustainable living while also providing their community with healthy home-grown food.
Promoting Environmental Sustainability
Environment, the third pillar of Calthorpe’s SEED philosophy, is embodied through the garden’s circular approach to food, waste, and energy. Calthorpe’s Living Lab is a closed-loop food-waste-energy system operating as a research resource, community platform, and education and volunteer opportunity. In a nutshell, organic waste from the Calthorpe community cafe is processed in an anaerobic digester, which turns waste into biogas and liquid fertilizer to grow and cook more food for the café, keeping the system going.
The system itself does require technology such as hydroponic systems, a housed anaerobic digester, and solar panels in order to keep everything running, but by working with researchers, students, and engineers, Calthorpe hopes that the system will be spread and replicated around the world. According to their website, the model could be used anywhere in the world and would be especially helpful to places with scarce food and fuel.
The closed-food system provides a lot of nutritious food and an opportunity for the community to learn about improving their diet. Calthorpe Gardens offers daily gardening sessions, primarily for retired people, helping them to stay active and healthy. The Garden takes special care to save spaces for women in the community to ensure equitable engagement across the community of all ages and genders.
A Diverse Community
The final pillar of the SEED philosophy is diversity, an important part of sustainability. Calthorpe offers countless activities for people of all ages, from children to the elderly, and the garden prides itself on being a way to bring together people who wouldn’t normally socialize together.
Beyond its mission, the garden itself is beautiful and reflects the work and love of the community sustaining it. The mosaic tiles in the garden path, the variety of plants, and the people playing or walking around all reflect what an important space for the future of sustainable living the Calthorpe Community Garden is for London.
As you enter and exit the garden, you see a metal globe of people holding hands, symbolizing the importance of coming together for the safety of our planet.
