I have invested a considerable amount of effort in ‘greening’ the public realm in Knight’s Walk to make it enjoyable for all:
– Rescuing plants from areas of the estate that are at risk of being demolished, replanting them in new flower beds elsewhere.
– Weeding the new communal gardens associated with Eliza Cook House, which can take days.
– Investing over £100 of my own money on a long hose and watering cans so plants which are a long distance from any water source can be reached.
– Watering in the summer months new planting as part of the communal gardens, which often takes around an hour and encouraging other residents to do so when I’m away on holiday.
– Planning the location of a new water butt and cold frames, and applying for this to be delivered by the Brixton organisation Inuse-Reuse.
– Maintaining plants in communal planters in the pedestrianised area.
– Buying attractive new plants (lavender, roses) for communal areas.
Please note photos were taken in March (when it was wet) and includes an image of the pile of weeds I have dug up!
Im nominating one of my volunteers Connor as he has been dedicated to participating nearly every weekend for 2years. His confidence and independence in gardening has grown significantly.
Heather is an exceptional volunteer whose dedication and tireless efforts have made an lasting impact on this community’s growing space.
She is always willing to go the extra mile, not only by running sessions at the local growing project at Loughborough Farm, but also dedicating time to the forest garden and community orchard located in Wyck Gardens.
Her unwavering commitment to the orchard has been essential in getting it to the great place in which it is in today. In addition, her volunteering work has been instrumental in attracting additional charitable funding to this green space that has allowed, among other things, for better community composting facilities. Heather’s knowledge is not only limited to growing plants but extends to orcharding, composting, and the importance of biodiversity.
Whether it’s organizing workshops or coordinating community events, she strives to create a sense of belonging among all that come to the orchard. She is always eager to lend a helping hand, teaching others about gardening and nurturing their own green spaces. She has been the driving force behind the Wyck Gardens Apple Day, a popular community event held each year celebrating the diversity of the local orchard.
Serena is the secret gardener of SW9! For at least 5 years, Serena has been planting and watering community planters in Pulross Road, Dalyell Road and Mordaunt Road.
Hundreds of people have their days brightened by Serena’s gorgeous flowers every day and I want to nominate her to recognise her incredible contribution to greening our neighbourhood.
Serena has planted an amazing array of flowers including nasturtium, calendula, Iris as well as daffodils, lavender, mint, lambs’ ear which all attract flying insects (including butterflies – I spotted a Red Admiral butterfly last week) as well as geranium, three cornered leek, lobelia, salvia, verbena bonariensis, penstemmon, marguerite, oxalis, Erysimum, and the list goes on.
In 2022, Serena grew sunflowers from seed and gave them to people across the neighbourhood (including nearby Papa’s Park) in support of Ukraine. It’s not an easy job – planters are sometimes vandalised or plants stolen. I’m in awe of Serena’s enthusiasm (and green thumb). The planters in our neighbourhood have gone from strength to strength under Serena’s care – they are always overflowing with gorgeous flowers throughout the year. The photos show planters across the road from Zack’s Tyres and Papa’s Park on Pulross Road and on Mordaunt (where I spotted a red admiral on Serena’s plants). She also cares for planters on Dalyell (outside the Marquis pub).
Barbara is a very committed volunteer gardener here at Roots and Shoots.
Barbara began as a regular Thursday volunteer, but as she lives very nearby, she often comes over to work in our Wild Garden on extra days and even at weekends. Whenever she has a couple of hours to spare she can inevitably be found with her secateurs or trowel somewhere in the Wild Garden.
Barbara keeps our small band of regular Thursday volunteer gardeners in line, listing the jobs to be done and passing on sound garden skills and tips as she is always thinking ahead, planning jobs to be done over the next season. She was instrumental in setting up our own volunteer Whatsapp group and uses it regularly to post photos of what’s been achieved and areas that need attention.
She is particularly good at encouraging and guiding our groups of corporate volunteers who come to Roots and Shoots for away-days. As she is so friendly, open and easy to talk to, they get taken up with her enthusiasm and energy, and always do a very good job under her tutelage.
Her sunny Canadian personality is instrumental to our public open days where she’ll turn her hand to (almost) anything. When she has friends and family over to stay or visit, Roots and Shoots is usually on the list of local attractions to show them and she’s very good at encouraging them to support our charity. All in all Barbara is a joy to have around, diplomatic and utterly practical. Barbara can always be relied on to do a gardening job well, we don’t know how we ever got by without her.
Inez has been running our community vegetation since the pandemic and she has developed the growing for the local community.
Inez has also got the children on the estate involved with the community growing and continues to encourage residents.
Inez has also started growing flowers this year in the hope of having our own flowers to put into the flower baskets across the estate and they have come up beautifully this year. Inez supports the TRA and also the area is like a commune for residents to sit and converse with one another.
Inez has a great spirit and continues to garden and maintain the space all on her own and we appreciate her for it across the estate.
