This will be followed by the Friends of Abbey Gardens AGM from 2-4pm. at Stratford Salvation Army, 1 Paul Street, London E15 4QB, which is near Abbey Gardens. Anyone is welcome to attend so if you're thinking of joining the group this is a good event to come to. Aside from the regular business we will be talking about where we have got to with becoming a charity AND electing all the main roles in the group ... 

We have spent a lot of time trying to find someone local interested in taking up the role of secretary for the group so if you're reading this and think it might be for you do get in touch.

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Winter Chill at Abbey Gardens Saturday 26 November
- FREE  4.30pm - 6pm Abbey Gardens, Bakers Row, London
E15 3NF 

* Homemade soup and a glass of mulled wine *Local choir by
candlelight * Mince pies, tea and cakes for small donations
for the garden * Honesty Stall and produce * Festive
craft activities for all ages  


Activities are free of charge. Food, drink and honesty stall
produce are available for donations.

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This year ... Next Year

Hamish and I spent a happy couple of hours yesterday afternoon working on the planting plan for next year - at season 4 there's even some crops which have done a 'full rotation'. I love doing the planting plan - it's such a challenge to balance your 'wish list' of plants with 'what will work where' and 'what has grown where before'! 

New things we want to try next year include sweet potatoes, purple and yellow beans, dark mangetout and of course some new flower and vegetable combinations.

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It's been super busy at Abbey Gardens - we've had our Green East networking night (you can see some nice pictures of this here) including the very popular 'Get Rid of your Glut' table of (largely pickled) products!

This years Harvest Festival went with a swing, a mid event downpour rather adding to the good natured chaos.

Then the very next weekend the Friends group made a cameo appearance on Radio 4's Broadcasting House - Charlie (of course) stole the show ...  

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It's that time of year again and the Harvest Festival is looming!

This FREE EVENT is on Saturday 17 September 1pm - 4pm
Abbey Gardens, Bakers Row, London E15 3NF

• Take part in the 2011 Vegetable Games
• Enter our sport-themed cake or vegetable sculpture competitions
• Chef Beatrice Millner will be cooking produce from the garden for everyone to enjoy
• Enjoy live jazz music all afternoon from G & G Jazz Trio
• Garden tours and gardening tips from Hamish, our garden club leader
• Tea and cakes for small donations for the garden
• Kids’ activities related to the garden Activities are free of charge.

Food, drink and honesty stall produce are available for donations. Cake competition entries to be prepared in advance. Vegetable sculptures can also be created on the day.

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Abbey Gardens at the Spring Event, Photo: Nina Pope

Yes we have achieved what some see as the ultimate gardening accolade - next year Abbey Gardens will join the NGS (National Garden Scheme) and appear in the all important yellow book. Put it in your diary now - Saturday the 8th of September! 

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It's all go at Somewhere this week and not just in our own studio/homes ... editor Alice Powell has managed to tackle the mini mountain of video documentation I recorded during the first year of building Abbey Gardens and has made this very nice short film. It will feature in our last Floating Cinema tours in September 'The Green East' (which will both end at Abbey Gardens) plus I will be using it for a talk at the View Tube cafe tonight (!) but here for you our WWTHB? regulars to enjoy now!

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For both our Summer Fair FREE ENTRY Saturday 11 June 1pm - 4pm AND Open Garden Squares.

A summer celebration for all ages: Find out about the garden’s history, cooking and produce, live jazz, garden tours and gardening tips, tea and cakes, activities for kids & creative writing workshops.

• Come and learn about the history of the garden and its relationship with the 12th-century Stratford Langthorne Abbey 
• Vegan chef Theresa Web will be in the garden to delight us with some of her cooking and produce 
• We will have live jazz music all afternoon from G & G Jazz Trio 
• Garden tours and gardening tips from Hamish, our garden club leader 
• Tea and cakes for small donations for the garden • Kids’ activities related to the garden 
• Ollie Redfern will run his fantastic creative writing workshops at 2pm and 3pm.

We’re also part of Open Garden Squares for the whole weekend of the 11th and 12th of June 10am - 5pm

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Photo: Nina Pope 14.05.11

At the new bug hotel put together by the Friends group on Saturday under Petra's guidance ... 5* accommodation

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