The new buildings are set into a redevelopment of the garden itself that features planting selected from seed lists from the Museum's archives. The garden reflects the museum's workhouse past and the important role played by 19th century Waltham Forest in the development of modern horticulture. The pergola, linking the new community room to the original museum buildings, is aligned with a row of mature beech trees, retained in the new garden layout. The beds nearest to the camera (large photo) are stocked with vegetables of varieties known to have been grown for food by the workhouse people.