SITE DETAILS

Fuller information:

Although a new community garden created in 1984, The Phoenix Garden is on part of the former site of an orchard that belonged to St Giles Leper Hospital established in the C12th by Queen Maud. It was later church land belonging to St Giles-in-the-Fields (q.v.) whose churchyard is nearby. It is located behind the Phoenix Theatre. The site was built over for housing by the early C20th but following bomb damage in World War II it became a car park. It was created as community garden under the auspices of Covent Garden Open Spaces Association who in 1981 had started campaigning for permission to use the site, granted in 1984. Financial assistance from Greater London Council and LB Camden enabled the garden to be laid out in summer 1984. Trees including rowan, willow, walnut, birch and ginkgo were planted as were shrubs and native wild flowers; a rockery and small pond were constructed, and seating and a children's play area provided. It is run as an ecological garden, with a mix of ornamental and native species to encourage a range of wildlife, and areas have been developed as habitats for wildlife. A bench was donated by the actor Michael Palin in 1995. Part of the wall to the garden is listed by English Heritage. The garden has won first prize for Best Environmental Garden in Camden in Bloom since 2004.

Sources consulted:

Michael Waite, Daniel Keech, Meg Game, 'Nature Conservation in Camden', Ecology Handbook 24 (London Ecology Unit), 1993

Grid ref:	TQ2981
Size in hectares:	0.1203
On EH National Register :	No
EH grade :
Site on EH Heritage at Risk list:
Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:	No
Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:	No
The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
On Local List:
In Conservation Area:	Yes
Conservation Area name:	Denmark Street
Tree Preservation Order:	No
Nature Conservation Area:	Yes - Local Importance
Green Belt:	No
Metropolitan Open Land:	No
Special Policy Area:	Yes - Area of Special Character: Central London Area
Other LA designation:	Public Open Space (Small Local). London Squares Preservation Act 1931.