Growing Together: New Accessible Planters Bring Nature and Community to The House of Life
Last year the House of Life Heritage Centre at Willesden Jewish Cemetery was awarded an Eco Grant to create new accessible planting troughs for schools and the wider community. This exciting project will transform the appearance of the car park, creating a vibrant green space that encourages community engagement, supports local wildlife and brings natural beauty to the landscape.
The accessible planters will become a sensory and heritage flower garden, providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to connect with nature. The project reflects our commitment to sustainability, education and caring for our world — l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation.
Following the launch event for the project on Tu B’shevat (Jewish New Year for Trees) in February 2026 and school sessions earlier in the year, we finish the summer planting at two community events during the half term holiday week.
On 26 May 2026 during our “Let’s Plant Together” family session, staff, volunteers and families came together to plant one of the troughs. Participants worked hard to clear weeds and prepare the space before planting eucalyptus and lavender, two beautiful and fragrant plants that will enhance the sensory experience of the garden.
Following the outdoor planting activities, everyone escaped the heat and gathered in the Heritage Centre for a creative learning session. We explored the importance of sensory and medicinal plants and discussed practical ways to safeguard biodiversity and protect the environment in their homes and gardens. The event combined hands-on gardening with environmental education, inspiring participants to make a positive difference in their own communities.
The momentum continued on 27 May, when we were delighted to welcome members of Brent Mencap to help develop the new planting scheme. The group enthusiastically joined in weeding the planters and surrounding areas, planting flowers and herbs and ensuring everything received plenty of water during the hot weather. Their dedication, teamwork and positive energy made a significant contribution to the project.
We look forward to welcoming all the participants of the project to visit throughout summer to see how the plants are growing and join us in autumn for winter bulb planting.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported these first stages of the cemetery planters’ development. It has been inspiring to see people of different ages and backgrounds working together towards a shared goal. As the plants grow and flourish over the coming months, we look forward to watching the car park evolve into a green oasis that benefits both people and wildlife.
A special thank you goes to #BrentTogetherTowardsZero for supporting this project and helping us create a greener, more sustainable future for our community
