Urban Roots: An Appreciation of plants and the Community
A fundamental thing to know about plants is that some thrive in the sun whilst others in rain. Last Saturday 6th September was Urban Roots’ last plant sale of 2014 and it turned out to be one of the wettest days in September to date, even so the plants available each looked their best and many people came and bought their latest piece of foliage.
The man behind Urban Roots, Chris Bridle, tells me this that at an earlier plant sale this year ‘it absolutely tipped it down, I honestly didn’t think one person would come… we ended up raising £350!’
I myself went down last Saturday to my first Urban Roots plant sale and it was great to see that at the bottom of the very long garden at number 13 Wensley Road, even in the damp weather, there was a group of rightly-enthusiastic gardeners playing their part to help raise money for great causes. Further, the overall atmosphere at Urban Root’s plant sale was that of a pleasant and exclusive garden centre.
Urban Root’s Facebook page describes them ‘as a not for profit garden nursery which specialises in wildlife plants. We promote sustainable gardening and community cohesion in North Leeds’.
Chris explains to me how Urban Roots initially started seven years ago in 2007, with his re-designing of his neglected garden. In time, Chris says ‘I started to appreciate the changing seasons and understand how important urban space is for nature … I started teaching myself how to propagate from seed and division.’ It is undoubtedly not possible to work with plants without, on some level, considering the effect on the surroundings. In fact Chris goes on to say ‘I vowed to minimise any negative impact on my urban space and I read up on how I could do this. It was frightening to see how digging up peat was destroying fragile habitats so I started buying peat free compost. I learned about how chemicals in slug pellets were killing hedgehogs so I stopped buying that too. I’m now chemical free and I’ve learned to live with the bugs and slugs… I know that in a small way I’m protecting nature so that my kids can enjoy it in the future. What could be more important than that!?’
Urban Roots have monthly plant sales, which all the family are warmly encouraged to enjoy and participate in. Apart from the selling of various types of plants, Urban Roots takes pride in that plant-sales allow visitors to relax in the company of others with homely refreshments also getting hints and tips on the cultivation of successful plants at no extra cost.
Chris explains to me that these sales started back in 2012 and happen annually, usually between the months of May and September. Urban Root’s connections with Inkwell Arts started in 2013 when Chris first went there: his response to Inkwell was ‘I loved what it stood for’. It’s worth also bearing in mind that anyone familiar with Inkwell’s gloriously spacious and vibrant Garden, and its involvement with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) who help preserve and maintain the space, ought not to be surprised that they are involved with Urban Roots.
Chris adds that in his career ‘a lot of my clients struggled with their mental health and support was hard to come by’ therefore, he continues ‘it’s so important that places like Inkwell provide a safe space for vulnerable people and raise awareness of the mental ill health. I decided that I would donate the profits of the plant sales to Inkwell.’
Word inevitably quickly spread about Chris’ great community work, which he mentions has also led to the relationships with various schools. Naturally, he comments ‘it’s great to see Urban Roots playing a small part in helping children learn about plants and pollinators’, and the support of his colleagues ‘I take plants in regularly to sell and the money goes to local good causes like sponsoring the amazing Kate Granger to do her cancer research skydive.’
In conclusion and on reflection of Urban Roots Chris comments ‘people have been really supportive too, like my friend Mandy Rees who designed my fantastic Urban Roots logo for free. .. I couldn’t do any of this without people supporting the sales. My family and neighbours have been great and people come from all over Leeds to Urban Roots. Running Urban Roots is a huge job but I hope I can keep it going. As well as raising money for charity it brings together people from local communities in a way that’s quite rare these days.’
Reporter : Amanda Lynsdale
