Breaking down barriers to nature – Victoria’s story
22 June 2026
Victoria moved to Lambeth with her baby daughter over 25 years ago. Like many new mothers, she missed working and started to feel isolated.
Stepping out of her comfort zone to volunteer at her local park connected her to nature and to people. Her story shows how getting involved in your local area can spread positivity, impacting not just one life, but an entire community.
Despite living on a housing estate in Lambeth with thousands of people, Victoria did not know anyone. She had no real connection with her neighbours, barely saw people in the street and did not feel part of a community.
Many people will understand how isolated she felt. Her feelings only began to improve when she started volunteering with a group of women who were renovating a local park.
They transformed the space. Growing fruit and vegetables in the greenhouse and distributing seedlings to other local groups.
Victoria unearthed a passion for growing food. When local community gardening groups like hers joined together to push for change, she found herself in the middle of the action. She has been part of Incredible Edible Lambeth, a network of food growers, ever since.
Small actions that make a huge difference
"Food growing is a really brilliant way for people to take small actions that make a huge difference to where they live. I think of growers as an army of activists who are making a difference - our role at Incredible Edible Lambeth is to join them together."
Victoria, founder member
How National Lottery funding has supported Incredible Edible Lambeth
With support from National Lottery funding, the Growing from the Root project worked with organisations to run events in community gardens throughout the borough.
The events also:
gave people permission to access their outdoor community spaces
broke down barriers by being welcoming
helped them feel ownership of these communal areas
"One estate did a planting day with a bouncy castle and food, and another estate did a seed giveaway so loads of people came to get stuff for their own gardens. The events were a great way of bringing in extra resources and connecting people.
On a lot of these estates, there is very poor access to nature, so these events gave residents the opportunity to interact with green space, other people, food and activities. It was very joyful.
Victoria - founder member
If you have an idea for a project that helps people and planet check our funding pages.