Lyttelton Playing Fields

Lyttelton Playing Fields is becoming a thriving hub for biodiversity, supported by Britain’s Greatest Living Garden and local residents. The Henrietta Community Orchard, planted in 2021, is now part of the Friends of Lyttelton Playing Fields and a wider vision to make Hampstead Garden Suburb the UK’s most biodiverse estate. Growing Green is contributing to this vision by helping to enhance Lyttelton with wildflower meadows and native hedges. For more info, click here.

Latest Update

February '25: So far, we’ve helped enhance the orchard area at Lyttelton Playing Fields by adding a children’s seating space, wildflowers, and hedges—small interventions with lasting impact.

Looking ahead, we’re focusing on increasing biodiversity in the park’s southern corners, continuing to weave nature into this shared space.

Future plans include a swell and raingarden to channel floodwater. The orchard is based on the principles of the Suburb’s founder Henrietta Barnett who believed in gardens for everyone to enjoy. She was devoted to food growing and donated fruit trees to every householder in the early 20th century, many of which are still productive as veteran trees.

Rewilding strategies

Wildflowers

2024

Native hedges

2024

Native hedge

Nothing makes us happier than seeing local residents get involved in planting days! This native hedge will provide food and shelter for wildlife for years to come.
Big plans!

Dominic Rose (right), is leading Britain’s Biggest Living Garden, a project uniting residents to create beautiful, biodiverse spaces that support wildlife.
Orchard session

Locals chipping in! These types of projects are wonderful at building community cohesion.

Image courtesy of Michael Eleftheriades.
Smiles and laughs!

Community orchards are delightful, additions to our urban landscapes and places to learn and engage people to learn more about nature!
Image courtesy of Michael Eleftheriades.
The power of orchards

Orchards are priority biodiversity habitats under the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan, excellent for wildlife.
Image courtesy of Michael Eleftheriades.