We sure do love a transformation here in the capital, don’t we? We’ve got a city park that used to be a church, a public toilet that’s now a wine bar, and even a bingo hall inside an old Russian Orthodox church. Well, here’s another one to add to that list: Dalston Eastern Curve Garden underwent its very own butterfly-esque transformation back in 2010, transforming from a disused railway line into a gorgeous green space that now delights Dalstonians as a tranquil haven at the heart of their home turf.
Now, admittedly the name of the garden doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but the long-windedness of it is for a (fairly) good reason. The garden is situated on an old, disused railway line that used to connect Camden and Poplar. The name of that line? The Eastern Curve Railway line, of course. No trains had run on the tracks since the 1950s, so as Dalston was an area which suffered from a lack of accessiblegreen spaces; the decision was taken to turn the derelict land into a community garden and – well – the rest is history.
Upon opening, wildlife-friendly trees and shrubs were planted, and six large raised beds were installed for growing food. Since then, the garden has continued to thrive, with many more raised planters being added for growing herbs and vegetables, alongside plenty more flowers and plants to support bees, butterflies and other local wildlife.
Not only has it been a haven for the wildlife, it’s been rather excellent for the human community, too. Entirely free to wander around, Dalston Eastern Curve Garden boasts shaded pathways, lightbulb-festooned seating areas, benches nestled amongst the shrubbery, a beautiful wooden pavilion (that houses a café and a pizza oven), a conservatory-style greenhouse (used for workshops and events) and – most importantly – some vital solace from the chaos of city life.
Credit: @dalstongarden via Instagram
There’s plenty to keep you entertained besides all that nature. The garden runs a full programme of creative and cultural events. Frequent music nights take place on their ‘Woodburner’ stage, and there’s also the chance to partake in a spot of volunteer gardening. The extensive volunteering involvement helps to combat loneliness in the local community and bring residents and neighbours together.
Once Dalston Eastern Curve Garden has nourished your mind and your soul, it can nourish your body too with a pitstop at the Garden Cafe. Teas, coffees, and alcoholic drinks are all available, along with a range of seasonal soups (made from vegetables from the community garden), homemade cakes (flavoured with garden herbs), and pizzas from their on-site pizza oven.
All of the proceeds from the café are ploughed straight back into supporting the garden, and used for their year-round education programme and community events. So basically, a slice of lemon drizzle and a wander round the gorgeous garden really does everyone good.