London Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Garden in a Skip was conceived as a part of a campaign by the Trust to raise awareness that a huge area of London’s gardens – so valuable to people and wildlife – is fast disappearing. Together with The Royal Parks, the Trust also wanted to show people how to garden sustainably for wildlife.

The garden received a huge amount of national press coverage appearing at a number of London events during June & July 2007 including: BBC Springwatch event in Newham, the Camden Green Fair, the Lambeth Country Show and RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show where it received a Bronze Medal award in the small gardens category.

An eyecatching concept 

The Wildlife Garden in a Skip was a sustainable garden using plants with a low water requirement. Many of its herbs, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses had nectar-rich flowers or seedheads attractive to pollinating insects and birds. All the materials used to make the Garden were recycled, reused or donated, including some plants from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The focal point of the garden was a solar-powered water feature made from an old bath showing the importance of the water cycle and how renewable energy can be harnessed, making a garden or green space more environmentally friendly. 

From the initial concept to the final garden, the project would not have been possible without the support of our partners. As main sponsor, Veolia Environmental Services provided a custom-modified skip for the garden and essential expertise in transporting the finished garden around London. 

The Royal Parks offered their expertise to help design a garden that not only reflected the content of the campaign but was also visually engaging. Other vital support came from The Royal Parks Guild who helped the Wildlife Garden in a Skip project take shape. Bluebird Ecological Ltd, owners of the solar-powered boat on The Serpentine designed and installed the system to power the water feature. Student volunteers from Capel Manor College in Regent’s Park helped plant the garden. The Royal Horticultural Society kindly gave permission for plants from Chelsea Flower Show to be reused, while R A Meredith & Son Ltd donated further plants. The Historic Royal Palaces kindly provided a venue for the launch of the garden.

If your business is looking to promote biodiversity in London please contact Jamie Grier or phone 020 7803 4297 to discuss how we can work together.