Three gardens to open to raise money for sixth formers in some of London’s most deprived areas

By Rachael Griffiths 

Three stunning gardens are to open next month to raise money for a foundation helping sixth formers in some of London’s most deprived areas.

Three gardens that back on to Dulwich Park will open on Sunday June 13, with tea and delicious homemade cakes up for grabs at 142 Court Lane.

The gardens are home to lush wildflower meadows, a wildlife pond, vegetable bed, plantings, and roses at their seasonal best.

People can start at any of the gardens from 2pm onwards.

The Mark Evison Foundation gives awards for non-academic personal challenges to sixth formers at London state schools, often in areas of high deprivation.

Activities are usually physical, but can also be technical and creative too.

In the last pre-Covid year they gave 105 awards of up to £500 to students from 48 state schools across 28 London boroughs.

Despite taking a hit during the pandemic, the foundation has still given awards to 82 students from 21 different London schools, all taking place in Summer 2020.

Projects for this year range from sky gazing in the Brecon Beacons, cycling 240-miles from Campbelltown to Inverness (Caledonia Way), creating Japanese animation, to walking to Paris and recording a music album!

The charity was set up after the death of Lieutenant Mark Evison in Helmand Afghanistan in 2009, who remains its inspiration.

Margaret Evison, Mark’s mother, runs the charity and is hugely passionate about what they do.

For her, the greatest strength of the charity is the autonomy it gives the students: they can chose their own activity, so long as it is challenging.

They are responsible for planning and organising the their projects, all of which are new skills to 17 year old’s, heping them develop important life skills.

She said: “Their project pushes them out of their comfort zones and they take ownership of them.

“It is usually a significant event in their lives, often affecting their futures through new confidence and skills, but also enriching their CVs and UCAS forms [..] We want young people to get out of their comfort zone and create a challenge, which will build their confidence and confidence at the crucial age of 17.”

Three people who can back this up are Jesus, Henry, Akpobombe and Chipeze from St Thomas the Apostle College in Southwark.

In 2018 the four of them trekked 80 miles, beginning in rural Ballater.

The four London lads camped in muddy and marshy land, meeting people from Australia and Germany, but also coming up close with mosquitos and ticks.

They faced a number of challenges: they lost tent pegs so had to sleep with tents exposed and the rough winds.

The determined boys watched the sun set as they hiked up mountains in Loch Esk, and on the final day had only one bag of rice to share between them.

The Queen even paid a visit to her home when they were there.

They kept their spirits up and never gave up.

Of the trip, they said: “This trip has allowed us to take a break from a very stressful year of A-levels and life.

“We would like to thank everybody part of the Mark Evison for giving us the opportunity of a life time, to do something we never thought we would do.”

Combined entry for the Open Gardens in Dulwich will cost £8.