Looking for a space to hire in Chingford? OrganicLea has a variety of indoor and outdoor areas at Hawkwood Nursery that are perfect for all sorts of activities and group sizes.
Indoors, you can choose from the Glasshouse or the Classroom, the Woodland Classroom, or the Kitchen. If you’d rather be outdoors, we have lovely areas such as the Magical Realm and the Oak Grove.
If you’re interested in booking a space, just fill out our Google Docs venue hire enquiry form.
What the venue has to offer
All our indoor spaces come with Wi-Fi, chairs and tables. We can also provide tea, coffee, and biscuits for an extra cost, and catering for meals if available. If you prefer, you’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks, but please make sure they’re vegetarian or vegan to meet our certification requirements.
Want to add something special to your booking? We can arrange site tours and team-building activities too – just let us know on the enquiry form if you’re interested.
We only accept bookings for public events if they offer affordable ticket options and if the event’s goals match Organiclea’s vision and aims. If your event is public, we’ll ask for more details on the enquiry form.
Please note, we aren’t taking bookings for weddings or parties right now, unless it’s a very small gathering.
For bigger events
Our Glasshouse is one of the largest indoor spaces we have – ideal for bigger events and activities. It’s 15 metres by 5 metres and can hold up to 100 people for a standing reception, 40 for classroom-style seating, or 85 for theatre-style seating.
The Glasshouse isn’t heated or insulated, and because it’s in use during the week, it’s only available to hire in the evenings or at weekends. The space is wheelchair accessible, and you’ll find toilets and facilities for making hot drinks in the same building.
We can also provide a whiteboard, flipchart and paper, and pens.
A teaching facility
The Classroom is in our main building and is a popular spot for horticulture and food-growing courses. The room is 7.5 metres by 5.5 metres and fits up to 60 people for a standing reception, 25 with classroom seating, and 35 with theatre-style seating.
It’s wheelchair accessible, and toilets and hot drink-making facilities are close by. We can provide a projector, whiteboard, flipchart and paper, and pens for your session.
Learning in nature
The woodland classroom is tucked away in our beautiful wooded area and is used for all sorts of activities. Built in 2019 by Adrian Leaman of Wholewoods, along with an amazing group of volunteers, it’s a unique, round building made from local timber.
The space is 6 metres across and can comfortably fit up to 45 people for a standing event, 20 people with tables and chairs for classroom-style sessions, or 30 people seated theatre-style.
There’s step-free access, though please note the pathway is a bit uneven and potentially muddy with a slope. You’ll find a compost toilet nearby, and hot drinks can be made in the classroom.
We can provide a whiteboard, flipchart with paper, and pens for your group.
For catering and cooking classes
If you want a cooking or catering space, our kitchen might be available to book. It’s usually used for preparing weekly lunches but can sometimes be arranged for your event.
It is fully equipped with an induction hob, two ovens, two microwaves, and a variety of pans and utensils. Please note, the kitchen has a maximum capacity of 10 people.
Our outdoor spaces
We offer outdoor areas that you can hire either on their own or together with our indoor rooms.
Our Magical Realm is specially set up for Forest School activities. We’re keen to hear from forest school leaders interested in running sessions here, as well as anyone looking to hold workshops or training outdoors. This enchanting area can host up to around 30 people.
Right next to the Woodland Classroom, you’ll find our Oak Grove – a lovely spot for group gatherings and events. Plus, we have a pizza oven just opposite the main building, perfect for outdoor cooking.
If you’re planning a big event or want to use several spaces at once, we’ll chat with you to work out a price that suits your needs.
Example hire fees
To give you an idea of our charges, take a look at these figures.
- Individual or Small Charity (income under £250,000/year): £200 per day, or £125 for a half-day. If you’re a partner organisation or on a very low income, you might be eligible for a discount.
- Small Business or Large Charity (income up to £1M/year): £300 per day, or £185 for a half-day.
- Large Business or Corporate (income over £1 million/year): £500 per day, or £320 for a half-day.
- Each site hire fee is decided after consideration for the intended use, numbers, timings, dates, and what else might be happening on site – please ask us for a personalised quote.