Sunday afternoon.
Chess in the communal gardens.
The sun is shining. Kids are on the swings. Parents sit in the sun and chat. And I just walked out my back door into this utopia with a cup of coffee in one hand and a chess set in the other. There is an element of ‘Notting Hill’ the movie about it and indeed this is the secret garden they break into.
There are plenty of suburbs with communal gardens but none seem to be as prolific as Notting Hill. This failed 19th century Hippodrome racecourse, converted to ‘Ladbroke Estates’ by James Weller Ladbroke and architect Thomas Allason, makes a haven of green in a city with very few small local parks.
These gardens are special and the literal fresh air they provide after being in an office all day is invigorating.
My first experience inside a communal garden took my breath away and it was mind blowing to me that people could actually live like this so close to the city. Except now I am and I smile of guilty pleasure each time I walk outside: how can something so magnificent be for so few?
All communal gardens are locked and you will need to either live directly on one or close enough to request a key from the garden committee. Each garden has their own committee and can be quite political with plenty of lobbying and in-fighting. My garden is quite liberal with dogs, bikes and ball games allowed.
Communal gardens open to the public once a year for £9 per garden or a day pass to all for around £20. This year they will open on the weekend June 12/13.
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