From a derelict site in 1982, Roots and Shoots has grown to become a well-established and respected vocational training organisation with biodiverse wildlife gardens, offering a safe haven for both people and nature to flourish.
2005 Purchasing the Land
To ensure the long term sustainability of the new building and the site, Roots and Shoots received extra funding from the London Development Agency to purchase the land our site is on from Lambeth council, with the help of our then-Chair of Trustees Phillip Moore, a chartered surveyor, who negotiated on our behalf.
The purchasing of the land ensures that Roots and Shoots is safe from London’s ever-present threat of redevelopment, ensuring that we can provide essential support to young people in London long term, and safeguard our wildlife against losing vital urban habitat.
2005 Roots and Shoots article in The Times
In 2005 The Times wrote an article about Roots and Shoots highlighting the Wild Garden.
“A wildlife garden in south London is nurturing the trainee horticulturalists as much as the plants”
2006 Roots and Shoots article in The Guardian
In 2006 The Guardian wrote an article about Roots and Shoots focusing on its work to train a new generation of professional gardeners.
“Reap what you sow”
2007 Prince Charles opens the new Educational Hub
In 2007 the new Roots and Shoots building was completed, and our local MP Kate Hoey invited HRH The Prince of Wales to visit. He officially opened the new building on 12 June 2007. Staff, students and volunteers worked extremely hard to make Roots and Shoots look its very best.
Once again the whole local community turned up to celebrate, with the Prince meeting all of our staff, students, volunteers, funders, representatives of local organisations and local school children from Walnut Tree Walk primary school, Ethelred Nursery, and Michael Tippett Special Needs school.
Once again, as with his grandmother before him, local people living in the surrounding flats looked over from their balconies to be part of the event, which had very high security!
2007 Roots and Shoots Featured in the Evening Standard
In 2007 Roots and Shoots was Featured in the Evening Standard:
"In the same way that this environment helps us to nurture plants, so we can nurture these young people."
Linda Phillips, Director
2010 City of London Sustainable Cities Award
In 2010 Roots and Shoots won the Access to Goods and Services for Disadvantaged Communities category at the London Sustainable Cities Awards.
Judges said " over the years, they have transformed this ex industrial site into an award winning wildlife garden and eco-centre, and when their extensive work with the local community, on issues such as sustainable food production and biodiversity, are taken into account, it is apparent that this gem of a project is a worthy winner"