Marie Lloyd Gardens - Much-loved neighbourhood retreat may be ‘under threat’ from housing scheme

Published: 27 August 2010
by PETER GRUNER

A PRECIOUS wildlife garden in Upper Holloway, carefully nurtured by residents for more than 20 years, could be bulldozed to make way for housing.

Residents, including many from nearby Highcroft housing estate, are supporting a campaign to save the third of an acre site, which contains hedgerows and wild fruit trees, in Marie Lloyd Gardens, after Homes for Islington (HfI) launched a bid to stop it being legally protected.

Residents will apply to have the Islington council-owned site granted “town green” status at next month’s full council meeting.

HfI are objecting to the move on the grounds that insufficient residents make use of the garden.

Local resident and architect Adam Cook, who helps run the Marie Lloyd Garden Open Space Group, said: “This garden has been part of the community for more than 20 years.

“It is regularly being used both by nature watchers including children from local schools and residents who hold events here. 

“We’re not against housing but it would be wrong to remove a wildlife site in a borough like Islington which has the second least amount of open space in Greater London.”

Local Lib Dem Councillor Greg Foxsmith, who has been instrumental in getting support from the council for the garden, said he would be one of the first to throw himself in front of the bulldozer if there were any plans to build on it.

He added: “This is a wonderful garden much loved by residents but I’m not aware of any plans by anyone to build on it.”