From the tragedy of a fire which claimed a man’s life, residents in east London have come together to create a space for nature to flourish in the middle of a city.
Pearl and Mizanur’s Memorial Garden, next to Shadwell Overground station in east London, pays tribute to Mizanur Rahman, who died in the fire in 2023, and long-term estate resident Pearl Fullerton.
“One thing the garden really encapsulates is a sense of community. I think Shadwell is quite a close community in itself but this is another level where people have a common interest,” said Afsana Begum, a resident on the Tarling West Estate during an opening ceremony for the garden on Saturday (17 August).
“We all care about the garden, the environment and we’ve all worked together for a single cause which is to make this place as it is now.”
![volunteers paint on a black wall in an urban garden in Shadwell, east London](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/IMG_0892.jpg?w=4032)
When a fire broke out in Maddocks House on the night of 5 March 2023, 17 men were discovered living in a two-bedroom flat. Sparked by an e-bike battery, the fire claimed the life of Mizanur Rahman, a 41-year-old father of two.
Formerly-derelict land next to the station was provided by Transport for London and transformed into a space to honour wildlife, local traditions and neighbours.