Our friend Martha Pichey recently stopped by Dalston Roof Park in London, a pop-up community space in its second summer season. Here's her report:

"Located in the heart of the diverse northeast London neighborhood of Hackney, home to fashionistas, artists, students, and a thriving immigrant community, the Dalston Roof Park is a rooftop space inspired by a traditional English country garden—think white picket fence, garden shed, manicured lawn, and border flowers.

Initiated by the charity Boot Strap Company, the mission was to create an impromptu community space that could be enjoyed through the summer, as well as an example for the ways in which green spaces can pop up anywhere at a relatively low cost. A bar, deck area, event space, and allotment gardens allow for a busy program of workshops and events, including film screenings, puppet shows, gardening, restaurants, and live gigs. Up on the Roof never sounded so good. Go to Bootstrap Company for more information."

Above: English country garden against an urban skyline. Photograph from Bootstrap.

Above: The design of Dalston Roof Park is inspired by a traditional English country garden with a white picket fence, garden shed, manicured lawn and border flowers.

Above: Gardening Tubtrugs serve as inexpensive planters.

Above: A green thumb depicted in a mural. Photographs by Martha Pichey.

Above: How does your garden grow? Photograph from Bootstrap.

Above: Grow bags are ideal for strawberries.

Above: Photographs by Martha Pichey.

Above: Photograph from Bootstrap.

Above: Photograph by Martha Pichey.