UCL students partner with Camden community to plant orchards and map soil health

In a vibrant display of community engagement and academic collaboration, students from the MSc Engineering for International Development programme—part of UCL’s Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering department—joined Camden residents last week to plant 46 new “Communi-trees” at the Westcroft Estate. Over 80 local residents, including families, councillors, a local MP, and a dedicated team of UCL volunteers, turned out to celebrate this new orchard in the heart of Kilburn/Cricklewood.

The day’s festivities featured everything from hand-painted tree signs—cut into apple and fruit bat shapes—to a new Westcroft Mural, designed by young residents at a previous community event. Local teenagers from the 1smile4community youth café served a mouth-watering spread of planet-friendly food and cakes, while UCL students pressed fresh apple juice using a traditional presser. The orchard was officially welcomed with a poem and blessing by local poet Ian Grant and environmental campaigner Pamela Edwards, further cementing the day as a celebration of both nature and neighborhood spirit.

This orchard planting is a cornerstone of a wider initiative spearheaded by Camden Council, the KOKO Foundation, and grassroots group T&D, all working together to transform underused community spaces. UCL’s Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering students have been instrumental, not only in planting but also in crucial soil-testing efforts. Initial tests revealed unexpected lead levels at several estates, reinforcing the value of a robust “Soil Map of Camden” to guide future plantings and ensure safe food-growing conditions.

Dipika, soon to join T&D as a Rewilding Assistant, plans to incorporate these soil-testing insights into her upcoming thesis, focusing on whether the benefits of urban orchards outweigh potential risks from heavy-metal contamination. Alongside Camden Council and the KOKO Foundation, UCL hopes to further explore how to repurpose “grey” or paved areas for tree planting—a pressing issue in increasingly built-up neighborhoods such as St Pancras and King’s Cross.

The Westcroft Estate orchard highlights the power of community-driven environmental action. By bringing together UCL students, local government, grassroots organizations, and residents, Camden is setting the stage for a healthier, greener future—one fruit tree at a time.