St George-in-the-East Gardens provide a relatively peaceful green haven in a densely built-up area with busy roads. The gardens were formerly part of the large churchyard of St George-in-the-East Church, but the headstones have now been removed and stacked against the brick walls that largely enclose the site. The site itself comprises a large area of amenity grassland with scattered mature trees, a small wild area of scrub, and shrub beds of mainly exotic species located around the periphery.
Local Wildlife Site
Accessible Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
St George-in-the-East Gardens
Borough: Tower Hamlets
Grade: Local
Access: Free public access (all/most of site)
Area: 1.3 ha
Description
Wildlife
The entry point off Cable Street is hard-surfaced with a few planted trees, mostly downy birch. The wall on the east side of the entrance has a large mural depicting the famous Cable Street riots. This opening leads into a formal area of shrub beds and seating. In the main area of the churchyard, the grass is close mown, but two black mulberries are found towards the edges. In the northwest corner of this area is a stand of scrub and tall plants, including bramble, bracken, black horehound and the invasive Japanese knotweed, with deadly nightshade at one edge. Immediately west of this is a fenced area with numerous pollarded limes over dense nettles.A small derelict building stands within the site, not far from The Highway. This was used as a nature study centre until 1939, where the rector taught local children about nature. Now the only nature that can be studied here is the growth of sycamore saplings, moss, cleavers and bittersweet adorning the roof.Facilities
No information available
St George-in-the-East Church Gardens © Edwin Van Ek
St George-in-the-East Church Gardens © Edwin Van Ek
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