Village in Bloom

V17 Gardening Club is a volunteer-led community group started in 2004.

Our volunteers tend and plant local flowerbeds, wild flower meadows, ponds, veg plots, orchards, and planters - and maintain our green spaces. We focus on the environment, attracting wildlife and increasing biodiversity. We are facing a climate crisis; the scale of the problem is overwhelming, but TOGETHER we are making a difference!

Walthamstow Village has been awarded GOLD in the regional London in Bloom and national RHS Britain in Bloom gardening competitions thanks to our volunteers, residents, businesses, schools, groups, WF council and sponsors including Fullers Builders & BEE17.

Bee-friendly streets: Waltham Forest council don’t use chemical sprays on streets that have applied to become ‘Bee-friendly’. Importantly, in order to keep a street’s Bee-friendly status, residents need to weed the pavements outside their homes, if they are able to.

Monthly Gardening Group

We meet on the first Saturday of every month at 10.30 am, come rain or shine, at the Village Square on Orford Road.

We have a year-round list of activities that includes weeding, planting and pruning, litter-picking, re-painting street furniture, clearing and cutting back vegetation from footpaths and tending the Community Meadow.

You don’t need any special gardening skills as we’ll give you guidance as we go along, but if you have, all the better! You can bring your own tools or use ours. If you’re new to gardening you’ll find you learn so much from our experienced members, it’s like a free gardening class! There are always jobs for all ages and abilities so please do just turn up and you’ll receive a very warm welcome.

Why get involved with Village in Bloom?

  • Support vital pollinators and natural biodiversity. Make a real difference in a climate crisis.

  • Help keep your village loved, cared for and in bloom.

  • Learn new gardening skills and pass your own knowledge onto others.

  • Spend time outdoors and away from your devices!

  • Make a real difference to the place you live in or enjoy visiting.

  • Meet your community.