Octavia’s Orchard formed an imaginative green space in the heart of London during the summer 2013 Festival of Neighbourhood and was designed by architectural practice’ What If: projects’, in partnership with the National Trust’s London Project and Southbank Centre.

 

Over 30 street bins became homes to fruit trees and meadows, creating an orchard along a busy commuter walk outside of Festival Hall.

 

At the end of the festival, the orchard was split into small groups of fruit trees to be transplanted to chosen green spaces and the National Trust kindly donated 9 trees to Sustainable Merton.

 

During a successful community planting and ceremonial event in January 2014, these were planted on Rock Terrace – a grassy area near Frensham Court on the Phipps Bridge estate, Mitcham, and are to be watched over by the Friends of Phipps Bridge community group.

​