Volunteer with local community groups

Gardening is a great form of exercise that can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Spending time in natural spaces has been shown to improve mental health and overall well-being. If you don't have your own garden, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the creation and maintenance of natural spaces in Waltham Forest.

Below you can find community groups organised by their location within the borough, and further down this page you can find cross-borough green initiatives.


Volunteers part of the Waltham Forest Food Growers Network (Source: WFFGN)


North Waltham Forest

Chingford Hall Community Garden is a green space located within the Chingford Hall estate, which is majority owned and managed by Peabody. This group is restarting a community garden that was left alone for a couple of years, to create a place where residents and volunteers can grow their own produce, complete training workshops and support positive wellbeing.

OrganicLea is a community food project based in the Lea Valley. It offers a regular weekly activity, Wellbeing in the Garden, providing a safe space for people to engage in meaningful physical and creative activity, increase social connections, enjoy nature, and build self-confidence.

Other green volunteering opportunities in the north of the borough:


Volunteers at OrganicLea in Chingford (Source: LBWF)


Central Waltham Forest

There are a number of volunteering opportunities at Walthamstow Wetlands which vary over time, including the Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Ringing Volunteers Group. Find out about upcoming events at Walthamstow Wetlands here, including events for children and families.

E17 Open Gardens is a community event in Walthamstow where local residents open their private or communal gardens to the public for a weekend of exploration, inspiration and fundraising, organised by Organiclea. In 2026 it will take place from the 13th-14th of June.

Other green volunteering opportunities in the central borough:


Gardeners at Chingford Hall Community Garden (Source: Peabody)


South Waltham Forest

Our Pastures is a community-led initiative in Leytonstone that successfully campaigned to save a local site from redevelopment in 2021. It now operates as a hub for community activities, and local residents can get involved with its maintenance by joining the Pastures Gardening Gang (PGG).

Other green volunteering opportunities in the south of the borough:


Borough-wide networks

The Waltham Forest Food Growers Network brings people growing food in Waltham Forest together. The network includes community growing organisations, allotments, schools and herb gardens, and membership is open to any organisation in the borough. The network has held community training on food growing, including workshops on building ponds and seed saving.

Waltham Forest Food Growers Network are currently running WalthamWild, a project designed to help gardens support and monitor biodiversity, supported by a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant awarded in November 2023. The project helps residents, schools, and community groups support and monitor local wildlife in gardens and green spaces.


The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) is a UK-based charity that connects people with green spaces to create, improve, and care for local environments, enhancing both biodiversity and community well-being. They run Green Gyms in Waltham Forest, practical programmes which involve hands-on conservation work like planting trees and clearing overgrown areas. As included in the lists above, there are Green Gyms situated in Chingford, Lloyd Park and Leyton Jubilee Park.


Time to Grow is a community-focused initiative based in North and East London that transforms spaces into community food-growing sites. They help residents, schools, and local authorities turn unused gardens into productive, sustainable areas to strengthen food security and increase local biodiversity.


Starting a community group

If you are interested in starting a group based around gardening or the maintenance of natural spaces, read guidance on our website about setting up a residents group.

Gardening is a great form of exercise that can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Spending time in natural spaces has been shown to improve mental health and overall well-being. If you don't have your own garden, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the creation and maintenance of natural spaces in Waltham Forest.

Below you can find community groups organised by their location within the borough, and further down this page you can find cross-borough green initiatives.


Volunteers part of the Waltham Forest Food Growers Network (Source: WFFGN)


North Waltham Forest

Chingford Hall Community Garden is a green space located within the Chingford Hall estate, which is majority owned and managed by Peabody. This group is restarting a community garden that was left alone for a couple of years, to create a place where residents and volunteers can grow their own produce, complete training workshops and support positive wellbeing.

OrganicLea is a community food project based in the Lea Valley. It offers a regular weekly activity, Wellbeing in the Garden, providing a safe space for people to engage in meaningful physical and creative activity, increase social connections, enjoy nature, and build self-confidence.

Other green volunteering opportunities in the north of the borough:


Volunteers at OrganicLea in Chingford (Source: LBWF)


Central Waltham Forest

There are a number of volunteering opportunities at Walthamstow Wetlands which vary over time, including the Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Ringing Volunteers Group. Find out about upcoming events at Walthamstow Wetlands here, including events for children and families.

E17 Open Gardens is a community event in Walthamstow where local residents open their private or communal gardens to the public for a weekend of exploration, inspiration and fundraising, organised by Organiclea. In 2026 it will take place from the 13th-14th of June.

Other green volunteering opportunities in the central borough:


Gardeners at Chingford Hall Community Garden (Source: Peabody)


South Waltham Forest

Our Pastures is a community-led initiative in Leytonstone that successfully campaigned to save a local site from redevelopment in 2021. It now operates as a hub for community activities, and local residents can get involved with its maintenance by joining the Pastures Gardening Gang (PGG).

Other green volunteering opportunities in the south of the borough:


Borough-wide networks

The Waltham Forest Food Growers Network brings people growing food in Waltham Forest together. The network includes community growing organisations, allotments, schools and herb gardens, and membership is open to any organisation in the borough. The network has held community training on food growing, including workshops on building ponds and seed saving.

Waltham Forest Food Growers Network are currently running WalthamWild, a project designed to help gardens support and monitor biodiversity, supported by a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant awarded in November 2023. The project helps residents, schools, and community groups support and monitor local wildlife in gardens and green spaces.


The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) is a UK-based charity that connects people with green spaces to create, improve, and care for local environments, enhancing both biodiversity and community well-being. They run Green Gyms in Waltham Forest, practical programmes which involve hands-on conservation work like planting trees and clearing overgrown areas. As included in the lists above, there are Green Gyms situated in Chingford, Lloyd Park and Leyton Jubilee Park.


Time to Grow is a community-focused initiative based in North and East London that transforms spaces into community food-growing sites. They help residents, schools, and local authorities turn unused gardens into productive, sustainable areas to strengthen food security and increase local biodiversity.


Starting a community group

If you are interested in starting a group based around gardening or the maintenance of natural spaces, read guidance on our website about setting up a residents group.