I am a sustainable builder, gardener and photographer. I began to regenerate the vegetable garden, as a volunteer, at the leisure centre in 2016, aligning it with the Incredible Edible network. Sometimes I gardened alone, but gradually a small group of people joined me. After 2 years (on completion of my MSc) I wanted to invest some time in evolving the project further and so I contacted Renew to see if they could help me to achieve this. https://www.facebook.com/ediblemadog

Why are you drawn to this area of work and how have you helped community groups take their first steps to action in the past?

My MSc focused on sustainability. Through the ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’ module I became deeply interested in urban edible infrastructure and wanted to implement this into my own community. In the past, I have volunteered as a Snowdonia Society committee member (1996-98) and at the meadow Steiner School, Bruton, Somerset committee member and builder (2002-04). At the Steiner School, Orgiva Granada, Spain school, I was a founder, committee member and builder (2004-08). More recently (2014-17) I have worked in migrant camps in Almeria, Spain, building compost toilets and food gardens, on a volunteer project I created called ‘Salad workers in Spain’.

Salad workers of Spain

What is your vision of your region in 2050? What will have changed and how will we have got there

The birds and the bees can now be heard and appreciated. The streets have been gradually reclaimed by vibrant communities, with slower, quiet vehicles and bicycles, making the area a clean and pleasant place. Public transport has improved every year; now a low cost and efficient way to travel, locally and nationally. People have got used to community cars and heat and power systems shared by healthy efficient homes. There will be an abundance of food and trees growing in all areas close to people. Seed, plant and recipe swapping have become everyday events and people socialise at the ‘library of things’ and ‘repair and make workshops’. The circular economy is happening!