A new community garden in Peckham has been created to honour Damilola Taylor, who was 10 when he was fatally stabbed in 2000.
The Garden of Hope, designed by local teenagers and Ghanaian artist Godfried Donkor, will feature planting beds, seating areas, and a mural incorporating traditional West African Adinkra symbols. The design represents resilience, unity, and new beginnings. It was unveiled on what would have been Damilola’s 36th birthday.
Damilola was walking home from the library in Peckham Square on 27 November 2000 when he was stabbed in the leg with a broken bottle. He collapsed in a stairwell on the North Peckham Estate and died. His death prompted national debate about youth violence, policing, and opportunities for young people in inner-city areas.
The garden has been developed in memory of Damilola and as a calm, creative space for young people in the community. Organisers from the Damilola Taylor Trust and Southwark Council said the site aims to commemorate his life while providing a positive environment for local youth. One student involved in the project said the mural shows that “something positive can grow from something tragic.”
Actor John Boyega, a friend of Damilola and one of the last people to see him alive, sent a video message to mark the unveiling. He praised the trust’s ongoing work and told local students: “You deserve an opportunity, you deserve a great space.”
Damilola’s father, Richard Taylor, who died last year, established the Damilola Taylor Trust to support disadvantaged young people and provide opportunities that may help keep them safe. Over 25 years, the trust has run mentoring programmes, launched the Damilola Taylor Centre in Southwark, hosted annual youth achievement awards, partnered with schools and charities, and campaigned on youth violence, mental health, and safety.
