Druid Matt McCabe has created a community garden and orchard in Haringey, North London. Noticing that a corner of an allotment plot was going to waste near his house, Matt applied to his local council to take it over. After cutting down a couple of sycamore trees, clearing the ground and getting rid of rubbish that had been dumped there, Matt and a few volunteers have planted fruit trees – apple and plum to name but two – and have recently created a wildlife pond, at present tenanted by tadpoles and pond skaters. The first dragon fly had also been seen.. There is a grotto made of living willow and a circular study area. There is space in the middle of this for a bonfire. The council has recently donated lavender bushes to plant around it. These will attract butterflies and bees.
Tamesis Seedgroup volunteered to help Matt with this and in the process learn something about the often tortuous process of getting funding and help from a council. We had an enlivening afternoon wresting thistles, couch grass and dandelions out of the ground. Matt’s children helped us even if, in the baby’s case this help consisted only of very serious attention to holding a piece of wood. I promoted myself to honorary child status to get an ice cream (cue sit down on a log). When we left the study area looked much more cared for and it was a pleasure to play a small part in something so special. While we were working a wren flew out of the flowering bramble hedge: a bird that once put cunning to good use as perhaps Matt has done in this venture.
The Community Orchard is currently up for a Green Pennant Environmental Award.
Druidry is about loving the land and service to all beings. Matt has put this into practice and, with some help, nursed a tiny piece of Haringey back to health. May the gods and goddesses of the land protect this garden and bless him and his family.
(‘Editor’s’ note: the pictures are thumbnails. Click on them to see a larger version.)
