Growsie
Newham's Hidden Gems Map & January Event Details
I started Mapping Newham's community gardens to understand the local resource for plant sharing. But this became a project of its own, with 50 strong green and blue spaces in the borough. The map has brought everyone together, sharing resources and supporting each other when times can feel tough and lonely. The map has also been used as a resource for NHS social prescribing practitioners, a loverly surprise and far surpassing my expectations.
Latest version (October 2025) Click here
First version (published in 2023)
Improving access to Newham's Hidden Gems
Community gardens can often be difficult to find, tucked away behind residential streets with no signage. We want to change this and help more people find and enjoy these hidden gems. Working with the National Park Rangers programme and local communities we want to create a community marker to reflects local community interests. Marked trails will lead visitors from the closest bus stops and train stations to each garden and between gardens encouraging active travel.
We are hosting an event on the 31st January to raise funding to make this happen.
Click on this link for the community poster.
Click this link for the funders poster.
Want to donate?
Send money to: Forest Gate Community Garden CIO: Sort Code: 08-92-99, Account number: 6741360153 - Ref: Growsie Wayfinding project.
Community Plant Sharing
I am creating a plant sharing community to help people share or sell plants through local networks, reducing car use, generating local enterprise, supporting community gardens and helping people benefit from gardening even if they don't own one. I am keen to collaborate with App-designers, gardeners and Uber drivers! Get in touch: growsierosie@gmail.com.
Find out more about the plant sharing idea on this link
Nature conservation handbooks for London
About 30 years ago, London's natural history was beautiful described in 32 separate handbooks, one for each borough. They are still remarkably accurate, providing detailed accounts of history, culture and wildlife special to that area of London. Very few books come close to providing such well-researched content. Unfortunately, they are now out of print, and in private ownership. That is, except for three which I have gained permission to digitise for wider benefit. These being Newham (where I live), Sutton (where I used to work) and Brent (where I work now).
Newham handbook - click here, Sutton handbook -click here Brent handbook- click here
Valuing Gardens
Do you live in a house or a flat? - Fill in this 2min questionaire to find out how valuable your garden is to wildlife. I will then send you a certificate to put up in your window! click this link . Later this month I will be pubishing a green paper on some ideas I have around valuing gardens through amending existing legislation and/or adapting Council Policies. Why? because gardens really do matter as do the people that own, rent or look over them.
A bit about me
My work areas include ecological planning, biodiversity net gain, nature recovery, green infrastructure and systems thinking. I'm particularly known for connecting people and having a positive, blue sky outlook. I am also known as the "sink lady" raising awareness for London's nature reserves (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation - SINCs), that very few people know about!
Find me on Linkedin (Rosie Whicheloe). For more specific enquiries email me directly at: growsierosie@gmail.com
