St Mary Magdalene Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary Magdalene Gardens |
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St Mary Magdalene Gardens photo: Stephen McKay, geograph.org.uk
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| Type | public garden |
| Location | London, England |
| Area | 1.82 hectares (4 acres) |
| Created | 1894 |
| Operated by | London Borough of Islington |
| Open | 8am-dusk |
| Status | Open year round |
St Mary Magdalene Gardens is a lovely public park in north London, England. It is located in Islington, between Holloway Road and Liverpool Road. This green space used to be the burial ground for the nearby St Mary Magdalene Church.
History of the Gardens
The St Mary Magdalene Church was built in 1814. It was a "chapel of ease" for St Mary's, which was the main church in Islington. A chapel of ease is a church built to help people who live far from the main parish church.
The land around the church was used as a burial ground. In 1894, these burial grounds were turned into a public garden. The money for this project came from the London County Council and the local "vestry." A vestry was a local group that helped manage church and community matters.
Exploring the Gardens
The garden is quite large, covering about 1.82 hectares (4 acres) (which is like two football fields!). You can find many different kinds of trees here. Some of the notable trees include ash, lime, and London plane trees. One of the London plane trees might even be from the 1700s!
Near the entrance, there is a special plaque. It tells the story of how the burial ground became a public garden. Most of the old graves and headstones are located close to the church building.
The garden got a big update in 2010. New lights were added, along with signs, places to sit, and new plants. They even put up nest boxes for birds! The garden is in a special "conservation area." This means it is protected because it is important to the local area.
Who Looks After the Gardens?
Even though the gardens belong to the church, the Islington Greenspace and Leisure Team takes care of them. This team manages all the parks and open spaces in the local area.
In 2005, a group called "Friends of St Mary Magdalene Gardens" was started. This group includes people from the local council, residents who live nearby, and church members. They work together to plan how the park will be used and improved in the future.
