A garden in Archway has received a prestigious national award for the work it does in the community.

The Sunnyside Community Garden, in Hazellville Road, was given a Green Flag after transforming a derelict site into a green space that offers horticultural therapy and training for people mental health issues, and physical and learning disabilities.

Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, was on hand to present the flag on Friday (September 2), but celebrations had to be put on hold as the door to the garden centre had been jammed shut.

Tracey Lochlan, 43, secretary of the garden, said: “It was such a palava - we were all trying to get the door open, including Mr Corbyn, but none of us could do it. In the end we forced open a small window with a tyre iron and my daughter clambered through. We had to get in because the flag was in there.

“There was only about six other places in Islington to win the award so we are very proud. Now we are hoping to get some funding to set up a meadow out the back. We are surrounded by flats and a lot of people don’t have gardens, so this green space is really important. If we can get the whole community involved that would be brilliant.”