A prized community garden in Archway is on the brink of closure after nearly 50 years.
Sunnyside Community Gardens has welcomed volunteers of all stripes since 1978 and has recently become a leading light in the field of therapeutic horticulture.
Overwhelmed services and rising mental health issues have seen healthcare professionals embracing “green prescribing” – where patients are advised to spend time in nature as part of their treatment.
According to volunteers at Sunnyside, the effects can be life-changing.
TfL industrial designer Fernando Solis said: “I don’t know what I would do without Sunnyside.
“Being amongst people with different issues, and talking to them about your life, it makes you feel that you’re not alone.”
Fernando – who is autistic, dyspraxic and has ADHD – began volunteering 18 months ago when divorce and loss of friends left them feeling they would collapse.
Despite the rising need, lack of funding opportunities has seen a number of London’s community gardens close down.
Many investors, since the pandemic, have undergone “restructuring” or found themselves overwhelmed with applicants.
Manager Anna Portch, 49, said: “It’s never been this difficult.
“I’ve worked in small charities for 20 years and there’s never been anything like this.
“We’re hopeful we’ll get through somehow, but it’s a really tricky funding landscape.”
For more information on crowdfunding or volunteering at Sunnyside, visit www.sunnysidecommunitygardens.org/.
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