Vibrant Tangerine-Hued Rooftop Garden in London Created by Nigel Dunnett
In the heart of London, a unique rooftop garden named Peveril Gardens has become a beacon for community engagement and cultural events. Located at 140 Great Dover Street, SE1 4GW, this green oasis is open to the public from Tuesdays to Fridays, 10.30am-5pm.
The story of Peveril Gardens began with a collaborative initiative, spearheaded by Forma, a London-based arts organization. Supported by The Ampersand Foundation, the Henry Moore Foundation, and Arts Council England, the project saw the involvement of Sanchez Benton architects and Nigel Dunnett, renowned for their expertise in sustainable urban green spaces and horticultural designs, respectively.
Nigel Dunnett, now the garden's manager, has played a significant role in shaping its ecological and aesthetic aspects. He encourages self-seeders and blown-in plants, eager to see how the space will develop its own dynamic over time. The garden's design is a testament to his vision, with the same gravel emulsion substrate used in the beds as in the brick-striped pathways.
The garden boasts a diverse range of plant species, each contributing to its unique charm. Dasylirion acrotrichum, a spiky, domed hemispherical evergreen succulent sub-shrub with hooked margins and terminal tufts, sends up a tall spike of white, star-shaped flowers in summer. Another star attraction is Astelia chathamica, an evergreen perennial with attractive, silvery, sword-shaped leaves, happy in both sun and shade, and growing up to 1.2m x 80cm.
The garden also houses Ficus carica, a tough plant that can grow up to 3m x 4m given sun, and Euphorbia mellifera, a large, domed shrub with honey-scented flowers and long, narrow, acid-green leaves, which may need winter protection in very cold gardens and can grow up to 2m x 2m. Sedum rupestre, a hardy plant that makes an evergreen mat and can self-seed in tight nooks and crannies, is another resident, growing to a size of 15cm x 60cm. Lastly, Dianthus carthusianorum, a drought-tolerant plant with pink flowers and a height and spread of 60cm x 20cm, adds a splash of colour to the garden.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Peveril Gardens serves as a vibrant cultural and community hub, hosting public events such as artist residencies and sculpture commissions. One such event was Jala Wahid's public sculpture "Slow Crush," launched in July 2025.
Local resident and dancer Richard Court manages the group of volunteers who help maintain the garden for the benefit of the wider community. His dedication, along with the collective efforts of the volunteers, ensures that Peveril Gardens continues to thrive as a welcoming and engaging space for all.
- Nigel Dunnett, the manager of Peveril Gardens, employs a method of encouraging self-seeders and blown-in plants to allow the garden's appearance to evolve organically.
- Peveril Gardens, a unique rooftop garden in London, showcases the diverse beauty of various plants such as the spiky Dasylirion acrotrichum, the silvery-leaved Astelia chathamica, and the honey-scented Euphorbia mellifera.
- The design of Peveril Gardens, a prime example of sustainable urban green spaces, features the same gravel emulsion substrate used in the beds as in the brick-striped pathways, reflecting Nigel Dunnett's vision.
- Beyond simply being a garden, Peveril Gardens is an integral part of the community, offering a welcoming space for cultural events like artist residencies, sculpture commissions, and public installations such as Jala Wahid's "Slow Crush" in 2025.
