Hello from London!

On 13th September, 13 of us signed up to take part in corporate volunteering at Roots & Shoots in South London.

Roots & Shoots is an educational and environmental charity, providing vocational training of horticulture, food growing, catering and retail business training for young people with special needs (16-24). Their renowned biodiverse garden and ecologically designed building also provide a much-needed haven for native wildlife in this urban area of London.

The day started with health and safety and a tour of the site by the Director, Linda and the Communications and Projects Officer, Rosie.

The classroom and office building is ecologically designed with the roof collecting rainwater to water the garden and flush the toilets. It is covered with a combination of solar panels and grasses.

It is hard to imagine this lush garden was once a neglected barren waste land 40 years ago.

They teach students with learning difficulties who are mainly from Lambeth and Southwark councils, where the school is based.  As well as having gardening volunteers from local communities, Roots & Shoots opens its doors to students from other local schools to provide environmental education. They also host a horticultural therapy programme for groups of refugees and asylum seekers living in the local area, who have experienced trauma.

The team setting off for some work!

Cutting and pruning climbers which become overgrown over the summer.

Meadow team working on a very first stage of creating wildlife meadow. Lots of raking to do!!!

Throughout the day we learnt that what’s good (convenient) for humans and what’s good for nature can be quite different. But don’t we perhaps feel good in nature feeling good?

Source of water and aqua life

There are dead hedges made by branches cut down from the garden. Benches are made by rocks and stones excavated at the site. Things like these provide a safe habitat for wildlife.

The team enjoying a delicious vegan lunch catered by Roots & Shoots. The kitchen operates as a classroom, and the students learn to grow food and do catering using the produce.

The fresh and beautiful produces

Afternoon work commences. Anticipating some serious action!

Lots of tidying and watering to do.

We also planted trees for the meadow.

It was such a nourishing and rewarding experience working on the beautiful wild garden and supporting Roots & Shoots that is so much loved and needed by the students, local communities and wildlife.  Big thank you to Rosie and Linda from Roots & Shoots for hosting our day-out, and our SMTB colleagues for their hard work!

Charities, Wellbeing and Social Working Group