We are a community gardening project established to maintain and develop the Middlesex Street Estate podium garden. Our garden is a massive communal space home to a beautiful array of flora, located just 5 minutes away from the iconic glass towers of London’s financial district.

Historically, this space was maintained exclusively by the residents of the estate, but the garden has now outgrown its current volunteer group. So, in 2022 Benk & Bo partnered with Aldgate Connect to expand access to this secret garden to the wider community, so more can enjoy the benefits of gardening.

We currently maintain a wide variety of edible and ornamental plants and trees, with a focus on pollinator-friendly planting. Volunteers come to us to enjoy time after work doing a mindful activity in a tranquil environment, to learn new gardening skills and knowledge, to connect with their community, or to simply give something new a go. We are looking into ways to expand our project to include more permaculture practices into our work, and to explore community composting initiatives.