John Foster will be running a session on urban gardening where he will explore the mental health benefits of gardening, the importance of managing organic waste and the value of growing your own food. John will talk about no-dig farming, companion planting, creating space for nature and the community aspect of collective growing. Everyone no matter what age or experience can grow their own crops and flowers in an environmentally sustainable manner, whether they have a balcony or a plot of land.

From a career in the City to a job growing vegetables and building gardens, John helps run a community interest company in East London, Renew:EL. Renew:EL provides landscape gardening services and works with individuals from the margins of society; people who have been affected by homelessness, have had issues with criminal justice, are long-term unemployed or from a vulnerable background, training them as gardeners and helping them regain a sense of independence. John also runs an environmental consultancy, FirstFruits Enviro, that is developing a community composting and food growing project on Approach Road.

Tickets £5