What can one neglected patch of land grow beyond plants? This week, I'm joined by Shereen Chung-Blake, community gardener and programme coordinator at Bankside Open Spaces Trust, to hear how she turned an unused space in Camberwell into a thriving community garden, and why making horticulture accessible can transform both places and people.

Benny's Insect of the Week: Marmalade Hoverfly

Links

Wyld of the Woodling by William Rowlandson

If you enjoyed this week's episode with William Rowlandson, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:

Episode 376: From Rewilding to Renaturing with James Canton

Writer James Canton explores the difference between rewilding and renaturing, drawing on his own experience of transforming a two-acre patch of land in North Essex into a haven for wildlife. It's a thoughtful companion to William's discussion of what it means to be wild, how we interact with the landscape and the importance of recognising the value of the natural world around us.

Episode 370: Remembering Our Nature with Brigit Anna McNeill

Writer, naturalist and herbalist Brigit Anna McNeill explores what it means to reconnect with the natural world and rediscover our place within it. Drawing on plants, folklore, herbalism and her own experiences, Brigit reflects on the relationship between human and natural worlds, making this a particularly fitting companion to William's questioning of the boundaries we place between ourselves and nature.

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What can one neglected patch of land grow beyond plants? This week, I'm joined by Shereen Chung-Blake, community gardener and programme coordinator at Bankside Open Spaces Trust, to hear how she turned an unused space in Camberwell into a thriving community garden, and why making horticulture accessible can transform both places and people.

Benny's Insect of the Week: Heath Potter Wasp

Links

Shereen's Instagram

LinkedIn

Camberwell Triangle Gardeners

Future Gardeners Course

Incredible Edible

London Right to Grow

SLUG (Community Composting)

Burgess Plant Nursery (Community Plants and Propagation)

Walworth Community Gardening Network (WCGN)

Walworth Road Retail Opportunity (Walworth Corners)

Walworth Neighbourhood Food Model

If you enjoyed this week's episode with Shereen, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:

Episode 275: Community Gardening

Vicky Chown, head gardener at OmVed Gardens, talks about the role of community gardens in bringing together food growing, creativity and wellbeing. It's a useful companion to Shereen's story of turning an unused patch of land into a thriving shared space.

Episode 386: Walworth Garden – Rooted in Community

Oliver Hayden of Walworth Garden discusses how a free community garden can support local people, encourage connections with nature and create meaningful social change. Like Shereen's work in Camberwell, it shows how gardens can offer far more than a place to grow plants.

Please support the podcast on Patreon

And follow Roots and All:

On Instagram @rootsandallpod

On Facebook @rootsandalluk

On LinkedIn @rootsandall

What can 450 million years of plant evolution teach us about the world we live in today? This week, I'm joined by horticulturist and author Ben Dark to discuss his latest book, *Green Kingdom*, exploring the stories behind plant evolution, botanical classification and our changing understanding of the natural world.

Benny's Insect of the Week: Field Digger Wasp

Links

Ben's Website

The Garden Collective

Green Kingdom by Ben Dark

Please support the podcast on Patreon

And follow Roots and All:

On Instagram @rootsandallpod

On Facebook @rootsandalluk

On LinkedIn @rootsandall

If you enjoyed this week's episode with Ben, you might also enjoy these episodes from the archives:

Episode 169: Darwin's Garden with Dr Jude Piesse

Jude Piesse explores the largely forgotten garden of Charles Darwin's childhood home in Shrewsbury, revealing the people, stories and horticultural history that shaped this remarkable place. It's a fascinating companion to Ben's discussion of plant history, bringing together gardens, literature and the people behind our understanding of the natural world.

Episode 164: By Any Other Name with Simon Morley

Artist, art historian and rose gardener Simon Morley explores the cultural history of the rose, from its symbolism and origins to its enduring place in gardens and human society. Like Ben, Simon looks beyond the plants themselves to uncover the stories, ideas and cultural influences that shape how we understand and use them.