As a treat, FUN will be joined by... (this week): - stick insects again! - Q+A FGCA - help get Pride flags all over Forest Gate! - ELFT-OT - learn about outdoor play! (next week): Starling Arts - celebrate National PlayDay! Book at theUPgarden.org/#events.

Mega thanks: - to Jodie who led the session & brought the stick insects! - to the ELFT occupational therapists for bigging-up community gardens! - to Queers + Allies FGCA for the Pride activities! - to everyone who came for FUN! See you next Wednesday!

Gotta say, early evenings at #theUPgarden are pretty special. Our colourful plants and furniture take on a gorgeous hue during golden hour! We're open until 6pm every day for a balmy stroll, or post-work/school al fresco hang-out!

Over the next week! Wed 7 Aug a.m. - nature-based family activities (joined by Starling Arts for National PlayDay)! Sun 11 Aug p.m. - same again 🎨🔎🐛 plus live local music 🎤🎶 at our Summertide gathering! Book your £FREE spaces at theupgarden.org/#events.

Due to various lurgies & appointments, not enough of our community gardening stalwarts are available to host tomorrow’s Social Weedia. But they’ll be back next Wednesday as usual for more chat & garden pottering! Wishing them back to health asap! 🤗

As you can see, removing all of the broken glass & sanding the surface is taking *forever*, so our book exchange won't be ready for Summertide tomorrow. Our volunteers are soldiering on though, so watch this space! Photos by Newham London for #PeoplePoweredPlaces.

🔊 Reminder about Summertide tomorrow! Meet your community & enjoy: - nature-based family activities 🎨🔎 - live music by Stew Simpson 🎤🎶 - writing Messages of Welcome to spread positivity 💌🫱🏼‍🫲🏾! Book your £FREE spaces at theupgarden.org/funsummertide.

Join us for our last 2 summer FUN sessions! 🎨🧶 Nature-based arts, crafts & open-ended play. 🪵🤸🏽 🔎🐛 Explore our wildlife trail. 🧺 Bring a picnic for after. This week's theme is sunflowers 🌻, plus another Messages of Welcome session! 💌🫱🏼‍🫲🏾 theupgarden.org/funsummer5

Thank you @PocheeTraining for helming your amazing @GGnewham team at all of the missions you've led for us! GoodGym has been instrumental in creating The UP Garden and all of the accolades we've received. It's been a pleasure to work with Brahma. We'll miss your energy & banter!

The penultimate FUN session was about the cheeriest of plants, sunflowers! Group painting, cardboard printing & 3D ones using playdough, card, leaves & sunflower seeds! Lots of happy faces including a nursery visit, & another Messages of Welcome workshop. Cheeriness all round!

It's our last FUN session on Wed; where did the summer go!? 🎨🧶 Nature-based arts, crafts & open-ended play. 🪵🤸‍♂️ 🔎🐛 Explore our wildlife trail. 🌈 It'll be a colourful one, & Q+A FGCA have another Pride flag colouring-in workshop! 🏳️‍🌈 Booking via theupgarden.org/funsummer6

We’re closing early at 4pm tomorrow to carry out some maintenance, which means no drop-in to Social Weedia. We’ll be back open as usual on Thursday morning!

& that was the last FUN session! Nearly 300 attendances, both familiar & new faces; lots of playing, exploring, crafting; making friends… & mess! We also gave a platform to some awesome individuals & groups, especially local grassroots initiatives! Thanks for a FUN summer!

Our volunteers have toiled for 5 months sanding the roughness & removing every glass shard. Our vintage phone box looks super smart now! The new glass panes, floor, shelves & door will be installed shortly, so if you want photos in it, now is your chance! #PeoplePoweredPlaces