The green shoots among red bricks

The winner was the Somerford and Shacklewell Estate in Hackney, which had a truly amazing inner-city communal garden. In the summer of 2009, resident Robin Grey led a series of workshops to create a garden in a raised planter at the centre of the Somerford Grove section of the estate. Residents young and old reclaimed the bed after years of disuse and learned to grow and tend a range of edible plants and enjoyed eating the produce they had grown. But it didn't stop there. That initial effort proved to be the springboard to residents looking at the estate with new eyes: every nook and cranny is now a space where vegetables might be grown and the results are fantastic.

The herbaceous borders have been moved to make way for squash plants, tomatoes and cabbages, an old dustbin becomes a water butt collecting drips from above, and peas and beans camouflage the railings of the refuse point.

My guide, resident and gardening leader Alex Collings, tells me some of the stories. Fiona planted two apple trees on the front lawn of her block, Sharif planted potatoes and wants more growing space, Craig keeps chickens but this year he had a first go at growing beans, squash and corn. Slava has covered the estate in marigolds.

Rabia looks after the salad on the bed in front of her house. Agustine and his wife have transformed an unloved carpark corner from scruffy litter magnet to bountiful Babylon.

Using excess compost, found materials and a surplus of growing knowledge, the garden appeared out of nowhere and has provided a plentiful supply of corn, tomatoes, potatoes and salad for their family. Mum (Carol — but a self-professed "Mum to the world") continues to grow her scotch bonnets to ward off squirrels, grown from seeds given to her by a friend at Ridley Road market.

"Out of my living-room window every day I see mums collect mint on their way back from the school run, kids daring each other to eat nasturtium flowers or admiring the growth of the beans they planted," says Alex. "And Growing Club has become such a popular after-school activity that I know it's Tuesday because the kids are knocking on my door and saying is it Growing Club today?' and what are we planting?'."

I was especially impressed by the way the whole estate felt united. As you walk around it, there are signs of the loving care that has gone into each mini-garden. All these views are echoed by Joy Kahumba, part of the local NHS Communities Team, who has awarded the Somerford and Shacklewell estate a £7,000 grant to help with the project.

Growing Club is led by Alex Collings and Hedvig Murray, the director of social enterprise Get Growing (http://getgrowing.org.uk/).