Girls In The Garden: Celebrating Success with Our Midsummer Flower Crown Workshop
As the founder of The Wild Remedy it fills my heart with joy to reflect on the incredible journey we've embarked on with our 'Girls In The Garden' initiative. Our fifth and final workshop of this pilot series, the Midsummer Flower Crown workshop, was a resounding success, perfectly encapsulating the spirit and objectives of our program.
A Magical Midsummer Celebration
On a gloriously sunny day, we gathered in the beautiful Tavistock Square Garden in London for a celebration of Midsummer and the natural beauty that surrounds us. The setup was nothing short of enchanting: a boho-style arrangement with cushions and flower material floor coverings created a cosy and inviting atmosphere.
Girls of all ages, along with women, mothers, and daughters, came together to craft stunning, Instagram-worthy flower crowns. The materials provided were all eco-friendly, adhering to our commitment to sustainability—no wires, plastics, or nasties, just natural, biodegradable elements like ivy branches and plaited raffia and slow flowers. This workshop not only sparked creativity and a celebration but also delivered an important message about sustainable practices.
A Heartfelt Review of ‘Girls In The Garden’
Over the past five weeks, 'Girls In The Garden' designed and delivered by The Wild Remedy has delivered five transformative workshops hosted across the Bloomsbury Squares and Gardens, commissioned by the Association of Bloomsbury Square and Gardens and Camden Parks. Each session has aimed to connect girls to nature, providing a safe and inspiring space for them to enjoy their local green spaces. From the start, we've welcomed a diverse group of participants, fostering intergenerational connections that have turned into a vibrant community. The activities have ranged from herbal workshops to botanical painting sessions, each designed to foster mindfulness, and a long-lasting love and connection to nature.
Workshop 1: Self-Care with Nature - We delved into the world of medicinal plants, teaching participants how to create simple, natural remedies in the beautiful setting of Brunswick Square Gardens.
Workshop 2 - Bee The Girl Power- This session focused on giving back to nature, with participants planting bee friendly flowers and wildflowers to enhance the biodiversity of our urban spaces.- Participants explored the diverse flora of our gardens, learning to identify various plants and documenting their experiences in personal journals and participants planted a bee garden in Red Lion Square.
Workshop 3: Flower Printing at the serene St Georges Garden Girls learnt about perennial flowers whilst learning the Japanese technique Taki Zome also know as flower printing onto recycled tote bags.
Workshop 4: Picnic & Painting - Girls and women of all ages unleashed their inner artists, creating beautiful sketches and paintings inspired by the beautiful surroundings of Tavistock Square Gardens and the perennial flower display provided as part of the centre piece set in a relaxed picnic set up with a serving of botanical bakes.
Workshop 5: Midsummer Flower Crowns - Our grand finale, a celebration of creativity, sustainability, and community and Midsummer with a magical flower crown-making session. As we crafted eco-friendly crowns from fresh blooms, laughter and stories were shared, highlighting the bond that had formed among the participants over the weeks. The sight of girls and women adorned with beautiful flower crowns was a testament to the joy and community spirit we had cultivated.
Building Community and New Friendships
One of the most rewarding aspects of 'Girls In The Garden' has been the sense of community it has fostered. Girls and women from different age groups have come together, sharing stories, creativity, laughter, and song.
Throughout these workshops, we have received invaluable feedback from our participants. Many have shared how these gatherings have provided them with a safe, welcoming space to relax and connect with others. One attendee remarked, "These workshops have been a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively. I've made new friends and found a new appreciation for our local parks and nature."
Another participant noted, "I stumbled upon one of the workshops by chance and decided to join in. It was one of the best decisions I've made. The sense of community and connection is something I hadn't realised I was missing."
Passers-by who joined in and those that had pre-booked their place at the workshops also highlighted the excellence of the idea, suggesting that it should continue and be more widely advertised.
The success of 'Girls In The Garden' is a testament to the need for such initiatives. Our creative, nature-based activities have had a profound impact, demonstrating that urban parks and open spaces can be more than just green spaces—they can be places of healing, connection, and growth.
A Call to Action
The success of 'Girls In The Garden' has been due to the design and simplicity and power of the nature-based, mindful activities created by The Wild Remedy in urban spaces. As we consider the future of this initiative, we invite you to join us on this journey as potential investors, CSR partners, and local government bodies, through sponsorship, partnerships, and spreading the word, to support Girls In The Garden. Your contributions and support can help us continue and expand these workshops, bringing the joy and benefits of nature connection to more girls all year round. Investing in initiatives like ours not only enhances community well-being but also promotes the conservation and appreciation of our urban green spaces.
Your support can help us reach more girls and women, fostering a stronger, more connected community.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported us and attended, including Friends of Brunswick Gardens, Camden Parks, Friends of Red Lion Square, Friends of Tavistock, Association Bloomsbury Square and Gardens and Impact Hub London, and everyone of The Wild Remedy community who has worked tirelessly to design and create these workshops.
For more information and to view our gallery of the workshops, please visit our community page for Girls In The Garden. If you are interested in supporting or expanding this initiative, we would love to hear from you.
Thank you for being part of our story. Here's to many more gardens of connection and joy. Let's continue to inspire and nurture a deep, lasting connection to nature for generations to come.
Warm regards,
Bee
Founder, The Wild Remedy
