Winter

Winter has been a busy period for planting at the community garden, and it is an ideal time to plant fruit trees when they are dormant, as it allows them time to settle in.

We’ve added two types of damsons— a bush St Julien and a Farleigh—alongside an Asian pear (20th Century) and a classic English pear (Beth).

All these trees are on dwarfing rootstock, sourced from trusted nurseries, Chris Bowers and Blackmoore.

Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, each tree is now well-planted with lots of mulch and water, and ready to bloom come spring.

We’re particularly excited about the Beth pear. Its fruit matures early, so we’re hoping for a taste of its crisp, aromatic pears in a couple of years.

None of our progress would be possible without the dedication of our volunteers, braving chilly mornings to help plant trees, to joining in the festive fun at the Christmas quiz and raffle at The Windermere pub. We’re grateful for every pair of hands and every moment of support. Your involvement is what makes the Northwick Park Community Garden special.

A sneak peek at our plans for 2026

Though we’re still finalising the details with Brent Council, there’s plenty to look forward to.

We’re excited to be planning some Saturday workshops, including a fruit tree pruning session. We will also be running a willow structures workshop in March. This hands-on session will be a brilliant opportunity to learn the art of weaving willow into beautiful and practical shapes for the garden. Spaces will fill quickly, so keep an eye out for booking details!

We’ll be launching an introduction to permaculture course—perfect for both newcomers and experienced gardeners who want to learn more about this sustainable gardening approach.

In addition, we’ll be putting the finishing touches on signage for the garden, aiming to make the space even more welcoming and informative for both old and new visitors.

Here’s to a fruitful and flourishing 2026 — See you in the garden or at one of our events!