Researching Southwark’s past and the life of social reformer Ada Salter who was a resident in the north of the borough in the early 20th century, Claire found inspiration in Salter’s 1923 campaign the ‘Beautification of Bermondsey’.

Ada Salter recognised the value of the relationship between people and the environment. She initiated communal green spaces for communities to participate in and enjoy. Planted trees to line the streets and offered flower boxes for domestic windows.

Access to green spaces and involvement in gardening became social assets which improved the health of residents and the sense of pride that they held about their neighbourhood, demonstrating the importance of cleaner, greener and safer spaces over a century ago.

The mural design involved watercolour studies of botanicals from the garden which were then composed digitally to create a scene. When applied to the wall, the image wraps around the pilasters and recesses creating a slight distortion to the image. This is the watercolour composition as a flat image.

The garden includes a storage shed, green house, raised beds, a pond, a mud kitchen and play spaces for children…

Limes Walk Community Garden provides a safe space for families to enjoy gardening, food growing, social gatherings, education and play. Green spaces provide multiple benefits for maintaining a healthy city, supporting the physical and mental health of residents and contributing toward reducing the impact of climate change.

Follow @limeswalkcommunitygarden on instagram to see beautiful photos of the garden throughout the year by local resident and gardener Aline David.

The mural was designed following two community workshops delivered in December 2024 and January 2025. Local residents attended nearby community venue The Green in Nunhead to participate in creative activities led by Claire who is also an art educator and founder of Art Hoppers.

Local families were invited to input toward the mural design through the generation of ideas in text, conversation and art making. Photos of the garden by Aline David, offered inspiration and source material for drawing and collage.

Claire gathered community input and responded to feedback by producing three designs for residents to consider. A public vote was cast for the preferred choice.

An employment opportunity for assistant painters was shared with local students at Camberwell College of Arts, UAL. Three students took up the role and worked with Claire on the 4 story scaffold in the early stages of the painting application.

Assistant Painters included year 2 Fine Art students Emily Bromage and Merryn Young plus year 3 student Nohana Sayama.

Students completed essential training before commencing work:

– Working at Height training: A digital course which raises awareness of the risks that working at height presents and the practical steps which should be taken to eliminate or reduce such risks.
– Health and safety briefing on-site with head scaffolder David Page of Pride Scaffolding re: how to access the scaffold safely.
– Creative methadology induction with Claire WT of Art Hoppers addressing the risk assessment and safe working practices on-site.