A new garden blooms in Stockwell – inspired by our Future Gardeners

Morley College London’s Stockwell Centre has unveiled a brand-new sustainable teaching garden. This exciting project, made possible through a partnership with Bankside Open Spaces Trust and funded by the Local Schools Improvement Fund, is designed to inspire a new generation of horticulturists.

Led by our consultant landscape architect Helen John (pictured below), the garden will be home to short courses that help people get started in gardening. It also serves as a new teaching base for our central Future Gardeners course, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and a dedicated space for their City & Guilds assessments.

Built for accessibility and sustainability

Taking inspiration from stunning RHS Wisley Garden (a site our students visit during their course), this new space was designed with sustainability, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness in mind.

Recycled materials played a big role—safety surfacing was repurposed from an old nursery, and upcycled construction timber was used to create raised beds. The garden layout features wide, accessible paths and raised beds at a comfortable height for wheelchair users.

The planting scheme incorporates sensory elements and a crop rotation system to maintain soil health and prevent plant diseases.

Helen John shares her excitement:

“This garden is so much more than just a pretty space—it’s a hub for learning, creativity, and community building. Morley College London will be running gardening courses here, giving local people hands-on experience and skills they can carry forward.”

Bushra Iqbal, Vice Principal (Curriculum Impact) and Centre Principal at Morley College’s Waterloo Centre for Adult Education, has been closely involved in the project. She adds:

“It’s amazing to see this garden come to life! It’s like a little oasis in the heart of South London. Before, we had a garden—but now, it’s open to so many more people, with a much bigger impact.”

See the new teaching garden grow

The Stockwell Centre’s new teaching garden is open to all! If you’re in the area, come and explore this green oasis. You’ll find it at the rear of the centre on Studley Rd, London SW4 6RA.

Interested in studying at the garden?

Why not sign up for our Future Gardeners course? It’s free and designed to help people enter the horticultural industry without prior experience or qualifications. Take a look at our Future Gardeners page, here: https://www.bost.org.uk/future-gardeners

Images courtesy of Morley College.