Our communities
Getting outdoors doesn’t just boost wellbeing, it connects people and makes a difference
‘CHILDREN LEARN JUST BY BEING HERE’
Lara Honnor, 41, lives in Somerset with her husband Mikey. She started her own school community garden, Skool Beanz, in 2019.
Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. What got me through chemo and radiotherapy was my daily walk in my local park. Breathing the fresh air and watching the changing seasons opened my eyes to the power of nature.
Before my diagnosis, my ambition was to act. But after my treatment, I decided to do a diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture. During my training, I worked in an amazing garden with famous gardener Charles Dowding. It was like a Roald Dahl story, with kohlrabies and cabbages that looked like baby elephants. I was hooked.
I wanted to recreate that feeling of awe by making my own Alice in Wonderlandstyle garden for children. I asked my local primary school if I could run a gardening club, and a whole new world opened up. The club was popular, so I took over some disused allotments and set up a community interest company. I charge £10 for two-hour gardening sessions for children, and that money is used to buy materials and cover expenses. My main income is from working as a landscape and kitchen gardener, but I hope to be running Skool Beanz full-time soon.
I put the jobs up on a board, we have a little meeting, then we get going. The children can help or just watch, paint or play. They’re learning simply by being there, and it feels glorious to create happy childhood memories. I now also run adult courses and regularly speak to gardening clubs. I believe that everyone deserves a magical garden full of wonder and fun.
‘GIVING BOUQUETS TO HOSPICES BRINGS SO MUCH JOY’
Angela Hayler, 60, lives with her husband David, in Widnes, Cheshire, where she created The Wonky Garden in 2017.
I used to run a business consultancy, and I adored my job. However, creating The Wonky Garden is the best thing that I’ve ever done.
I wanted to do something for the community after I retired, and one day, at a yoga class, I had a light-bulb moment: I asked if anyone fancied starting a community garden. Several women said, ‘I’m in!’ – and we were off.
Our community centre had some land in dire need of TLC, and we got permission to take it over. We decided to name it The Wonky Garden, because nothing’s perfect. Our aim was to create something that brought happiness.
Through word of mouth we attracted volunteers, and we raised funds to plant roses, herbaceo
