Grassroots non-profit Grow to Know officially opened new community garden space ‘Life Under the Westway: Maxilla Gardens’ in North Kensington, as part of its continued mission to unlock access to nature within local communities. 

With 96,000 vehicles driving across the Westway above the garden each day, the impactful garden design seeks to provide an accessible sanctuary for residents while also cleaning up the air. The area was hugely impacted by the Grenfell Tower fire and one of Grow to Know’s key aims was to uplift the surrounding community. Maxilla Gardens received £41,000 funding from the Mayor of London’s Future Neighbourhoods Fund through Kensington and Chelsea Council and is now a community space for everyone to enjoy.  

Inspired by life under the Westway in 1960, the garden tells stories of adversity and activism in both the past and the present. The innovative design has an abundance of undulating, meandering and swathing greenery for wildlife, with bespoke furniture and repurposed materials used to create the pathways and features, inspired by the industrial development of the past. 

The main feature of the garden is its dual helix, which threads through the space, with interweaving pathways embedding the DNA of the community throughout. One path represents society, and the other represents the environment, symbolising the intersection of socio-environmental challenges and solutions. The garden is at the crux of community development - positioned as the front garden of Dale Youth Boxing Club, Bay20 Community Centre and the incoming Maxilla City.

Spearheaded by Grow to Know with the Westway Trust being involved throughout development as custodians of the land, the garden is also supported by the Mayor of London, as well as luxury fashion house Gucci, who contributed a tapestry of plants from the set of its Gucci Cruise 2025 Fashion Show held at the Tate Modern, giving the plants a new lease of life whilst supporting the community.  

The Future Neighbourhoods Fund supports the Mayor’s plans for London to reach net zero by 2030 by providing funding and expertise to help transform some of the areas in London most vulnerable to climate change. All Future Neighbourhood projects have been developed by working closely with the local communities and are innovative projects that help tackle the climate emergency. The Mayor believes all Londoners should be able to access green spaces and nature, and has developed a London Green Roots Fund to support councils and communities pay for trees, wildflower meadows, parklets and other new green spaces.  The garden was designed and delivered by Grow to Know, Westway Trust, SuDS UK, George King Architects and Wylie Wood. 

Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Founder and Creative Director of Grow to Know, said: “Following the detrimental impacts of the local injustice, the Grenfell Tower fire, the global pandemic, and the current cost-of-living crisis, we wanted to create a safe sanctuary of real meaning to uplift the community of North Kensington - not just to survive, but to thrive and bloom, alongside nature and wildlife. It is by embedding and highlighting stories of both past and present that will help guide our future. We look forward to inviting the community to enjoy the space, free of charge, and for a lifetime.”  

Mete Coben, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, said: “This new community garden is a great example of one of the ways we can bring green spaces to inner London. The project, which has been developed closely with the local community and provides residents with a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy while also cleaning up the air in a busy part of the city.  

“The Mayor believes access to green space is a social justice issue and throughout his third term Sadiq plans to support community organisations to deliver green spaces in the capital for everyone to enjoy.  

“It’s been a pleasure supporting Grow to Know and the wider team on this project. Together we can all build a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous city for all Londoners.” 

The Westway Trust, said: “The Westway Trust is here to encourage a happier, healthier and more prosperous community and is really excited to support this community-led project, which will improve the space for use by the people of North Kensington and visitors to the area. The garden will also be a focus point for events and activities and for us to draw attention to important environmental issues, such as air quality. It is part of a wider ambition to transform this area of the Westway Estate, complementing other projects and create more space for families, reflection and wellbeing.” 

Life Under the Westway: Maxilla Gardens has been designed by Grow to Know with further support from a community of brands, including DK, Second Home and Mercedes Benz Vans, all of which are invested in supporting Grow to Know’s mission to provide a greener future. 

The garden is now open to residents of North Kensington and the wider community and Grow to Know plans to continue building and developing new spaces within the garden for residents to enjoy. 

For more information, please visit: www.growtoknow.world