Walworth Garden

Opportunities to grow at south London’s Walworth Garden

It’s hard to imagine that this award-winning organic community green space was once nothing but derelict wasteland. Transformed in the 1980s, Walworth Garden soon became the perfect place to escape the bustle of some of south London’s busiest streets.

Today, visitors will find 250 plant species, beehives, and a plant centre. And with a demonstration garden, training centre and packed schedule of workshops and courses, it’s the ideal place for new gardeners to learn their craft.

15 people have the opportunity to study for a City & Guilds Level 2 Horticulture qualification, funded by Kusuma Trust.
95% of Walworth Garden’s most recent graduates have moved into employment or further education.
In January to April 2021, over 60% of learners were under the age of 30.

Training and work experience for new gardeners

Walworth Garden wanted to offer free training to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to take up the opportunity. That’s why we decided to award a grant of £25,000 to the Walworth Garden Growing Pathways Training Programme. Our fund will pay for 15 people to complete a City & Guilds Level 2 accreditation in Horticulture, as well as gain hands-on experience of landscaping or working in a plant nursery.

“I have to give credit to Walworth Garden for helping to trust in me and invest the time into me,” says Julian, a former gardening qualification student who’s now employed as a Royal Parks apprentice. “They have given me the stepping stone to develop my skills and knowledge in the iconic Royal Parks and definitely had a hand to play in my continued growth. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to learn with Walworth Garden staff.”