This article focuses on My Backyard Garden, a community greening project that could potentially transform the green spaces of social housing estates in London and beyond.
Fatma Ahmed’s vision for urban green spaces
I met Fatma Ahmed a few months ago during a startup accelerator programme organised by Undaunted at Imperial College and the Startup Discovery School. During one of the workshops, where participants presented business plans, I had the opportunity to introduce Fatma’s project. While most of the other projects focused on revenue models and market segments, her initiative stood out. It’s a community-driven urban greening project aimed at revitalising unused green spaces in West London, especially in social housing estates like White City Estate.
White City Estate: A neighbourhood in transition
White City Estate, home to approximately 700 housing units, has a rich history dating back to post-WWII. The estate, located in Hammersmith and Fulham, has undergone significant transformations over the decades. Currently, there are ongoing projects like White City Central, which aim to increase housing availability. However, these developments raise concerns among residents about the loss of green spaces and the gentrification of the area.
Fatma Ahmed’s My Backyard Garden seeks to adress these concerns by redeveloping neglected spaces within the estate and encouraging stronger community ties. Fatma hopes that her project can act as a bridge between the long-standing residents and new developments like the nearby Imperial College Campus.
Revitalising neglected green spaces: My Backyard Garden project
The project is simple yet ambitious: to reclaim and transform the green spaces between buildings on White City Estate. These areas, originally designed as “green lungs” for the estate, have been left largely abandoned. Fatma’s vision is to revitalise these spaces, turning them into community gardens, biodiversity zones and green meeting points for residents. These areas will serve as paces for community members to reconnect with nature and each other.
The redevelopment will focus on increasing green cover, reducing litter, and improving air quality. Fatma and her team, which includes climate activists, Imperial College students, and local resident local Caty Keen, author of Our Planet Needs You, an educational poetry book promoting climate action, are inspired bu the success of Bridget Joyce Square, another community- led project in White City Estate.
Community engagement and consultation
A resident consultation will be launched in the coming weeks, gathering input on how the spaces should be redesigned. Suggestions range from creating community seating areas, herb gardens, and playgrounds to spaces for environmental workshops. The project will promote environmental education and aims to involve local schools in greening activities. Fatma’s goal is to ensure that the redesign reflects the needs and desires of the local community.
Partnerships and funding for My Backyard Garden
Several key partners have already been identified to support the project, which is centred on three key pillars; health and well-being, the environment, and community. With a project estimate of £40,000, partners like QPR Football Club, H&F Council, H&F Gardening, and the White City Residents Association are crucial to the project’s success. Imperial College is providing a meeting space for the team, and White City Place (formerly BBC Worldwide HQ) is offering time and resources to support the design phase.
Additional partnerships in landscaping, material recovery, and volunteer work will be vital for the projects success.
Fatma Ahmed plans to move forward in stages, starting with the space near Batman Close, securing funding solutions for each of the six community green spaces separately, totalling nearly 2,000 square metres, larger than some of the borough’s parks.
A dream that’s about to come true
Originally from Eritrea, Fatma Ahmed has lived in White City Estate for over 30 years, raising her family and developing deep community ties. Inspired by her mother’s passion for nature, Fatma is driven to improve her neighbourhood by enhancing its green spaces and creating a sense of belonging for residents. Whether working at Canberra Old Oak Surgery or participating in weekly community walks led by the Surgery, she remains a central figure in the White City Estate community.
Fatma’s leadership and dedication are set to make My Backyard Garden a model for urban greening in social housing estates not only in London but beyond. With her unwavering commitment, she is determined to breathe new life into White City Estate, improving the quality of life for its residents and fostering a greener, healthier future for all
