Description
The garden is named after St Mary's Church Haggerston, which was once situated nearby but destroyed by bombing in 1940/1. Georgian terraces here were replaced by post-WWII pre-fabs, which were themselves demolished in the 1970s, and the area was designated as community space. In the 1990s local residents established a community garden on the site. From late 1990s until 2003, it was run as a therapeutic garden project by Thrive. It was then renamed St Mary's Secret Garden and continues to be run as a community garden, with an emphasis on social and therapeutic gardening. There are currently herbaceous borders, herb garden, sensory area, raised beds and vegetable garden, woodland with small pond and greenhouse.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | St Mary's Garden |
|---|---|
| Site location | 50 Pearson Street/Appleby Street |
| Postcode | E2 8EL |
| What3Words | ///number.tame.struck |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | Hackney |
| Open to Public | Occasionally |
| Opening Times | Open for plant sales Mon-Fri 9am-5pm |
| Facilities | Toilet |
| Events | Numerous community events. Has opened for OGSW |
| Public Transport | London Overground: Hoxton. Rail/Tube (Northern): Old Street. Bus: 26, 48, 55, 67, 149, 242, 243, 394 |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2014 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
This community garden is named after St Mary's Church Haggerston, which was located nearby but destroyed by bombing in WWII. Designed by John Nash, the church had been built in 1827 to cater for the growing population; the churchyard was later laid out as a public garden by the Earl and Countess of Meath in 1882, maintained by the Vestry of Shoreditch/Shoreditch Burial Board and open during the summer. On the site of the community garden there were once Georgian terraces, but (damaged by bombing?) these were compulsorily purchased and replaced by post-WWII pre-fabs, which were themselves demolished in the 1970s, and the area was designated as community space. An old street lamp within the garden recalls the previous street that ran through the site.
The community space was not much used or maintained and in the 1990s local residents made arrangements with the GLC to establish a community garden on the site, hiring a gardener to lay it out. The basic bones of this garden remains. From c.1997 until 2003, it was run by Thrive as a horticultural therapy and training project for people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and physical disabilities, with a volunteering programme and employment project. In 2003 it was renamed St Mary's Secret Garden and is now run as a community garden, although social and therapeutic gardening continues. Placements, volunteering and training opportunities are provided for Hackney's diverse community and therapists work with many individuals and groups from the community including young offenders and people with HIV. The garden project is very much a community garden, and is available for local families and groups to use through a keyholder scheme. There are currently herbaceous borders, herb garden, sensory area, raised beds and vegetable garden, woodland with small pond and greenhouse. In 2008 the garden was listed as one of the top 10 secret gardens in London. The garden won Gold in the Hackney In Bloom 2013 awards for Best Community Project (professional).
The community space was not much used or maintained and in the 1990s local residents made arrangements with the GLC to establish a community garden on the site, hiring a gardener to lay it out. The basic bones of this garden remains. From c.1997 until 2003, it was run by Thrive as a horticultural therapy and training project for people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and physical disabilities, with a volunteering programme and employment project. In 2003 it was renamed St Mary's Secret Garden and is now run as a community garden, although social and therapeutic gardening continues. Placements, volunteering and training opportunities are provided for Hackney's diverse community and therapists work with many individuals and groups from the community including young offenders and people with HIV. The garden project is very much a community garden, and is available for local families and groups to use through a keyholder scheme. There are currently herbaceous borders, herb garden, sensory area, raised beds and vegetable garden, woodland with small pond and greenhouse. In 2008 the garden was listed as one of the top 10 secret gardens in London. The garden won Gold in the Hackney In Bloom 2013 awards for Best Community Project (professional).
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ336832 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.303 |
| Site Ownership | LB Hackney |
| Site Management | St Mary's Secret Garden |
| Dates | 1970s; 1990s |
| Listed Structures | LBII: 2-16 Pearson Street |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Other LA Designation | Open Space |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
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