Over a hundred years ago, this garden square was gifted to the people of Southwark. It now sits in the centre of an estate of mainly public housing built in the 1950s. At present over a thousand people live within the relatively tight confines of this noisy urban environment where green space is a rarity.

BOST became involved with the people of Nelson Square in 2000 in response to a desire to revamp the square, which had deteriorated due to neglect and vandalism. We worked together to redesign the play area and garden. Over a hundred residents came together to plant up a band of tall grasses and exotic flowers; they have carried on maintaining it ever since.

Today Nelson Square continues to thrive due to a strong and active tenants association that treasures its green environment.

In 2005, a striking and stylish container garden was completed in front of the largest of the residential blocks. 2007 saw the completion of a new cottage garden in a neglected and featureless space outside Helen Gladstone House. The residents and BOST are working together to give the people living on the square a green space they can be proud of.

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