Chiswick Community garden
Report by Monica Maghami presented at IEF conference in June 2025
The Chiswick Community Garden in London blossomed from a simple act of service. During Naw Ruz 2024, local families gathered for a joyful celebration followed by a litter-picking initiative led by children and junior youth in the Hogarth neighbourhood. Among them, a young passerby observed the spirit of unity and was moved. He shared a year-old vision: neighbours cultivating a shared garden, building friendships through working the soil together.
This spark led to a series of consultations and collective reflections. Guided by principles from the Bahá’à writings that place farming at the heart of a strong community, the neighbours transformed from passive observers into active protagonists. They explored how a connection to land and food can foster unity and how all individuals must see themselves as contributors to a shared vision.
A neglected 150-square-meter Council-owned green space became the focus. Local friends approached the Council with a proposal: to create an urban farm that brings residents together through meaningful activity. The Council, eager to tackle social isolation, supported the idea—on one condition: ten local households had to endorse it. The group went door-to-door, engaging neighbours with the vision. The response was overwhelming.
With community support secured, the Council approved the plan and funded the project. Within weeks, fencing and raised beds were installed. The group continued meeting to study Bahá’à social action guidance, nurturing values of collective consultation, inclusion, and unity.
Today, 13 neighbours are involved. Monthly, they plant vegetables, herbs, and fruits, and consult on the garden’s design. The Council supplies soil, seeds, tools, and training. The group is now partnering with William Hogarth Primary School to help restore its nearby wild space. This initiative is more than a garden—it is the foundation for a vibrant, connected, and empowered community.
Slides: https://1drv.ms/p/c/610b4baf35f8f026/EZ6KBf7XOilMuplGfAbx660BKc9QpZzHpuc570Y3EEV5LA
