Margate gardener and community advocate Kerry Brown has launched a new project aimed at helping those who may struggle with their gardens, creating job opportunities and introducing people to a new trade.
The Rerooted Project is a grassroots initiative dedicated to restoring neglected gardens and creating welcoming green spaces for young families, low-income households, and those unable to use conventional services.
Kerry says many people in council housing, housing associations and rented properties also face the inherited responsibility of tackling garden issues left by previous tenants or neighbouring properties — a challenge that can feel overwhelming without help.
Building on the success of her previous venture, GardenGirls Can, which served the community for six years and caught the attention of BBC’s Garden Rescue, the mum-of-four is now focusing on a mission that goes beyond traditional gardening services. The Rerooted Project offers hands-on garden clearances, planting, and maintenance, helping residents reconnect with their outdoor spaces while encouraging community pride.
The project is still in its early stages, but Kerry and her team hope to complete their first garden by September 2025 and aim to be fully operational and funded by spring 2026.
Rerooted is also designed to create pathways into work, training, and self-reliance. It aims to generate jobs, provide guided self-employment opportunities, offer volunteer placements, and introduce people of all ages to new trades.
By working in mixed-age, mixed-skilled teams, The Rerooted Project hopes to help participants build confidence, gain practical experience and explore career paths they might never have considered.
Kerry said: “We already have volunteers ready to go. We’ve put out applications on our Facebook page for our pilot garden, which will help us build case studies for funding and see how we operate as a larger group. It’s exciting to watch people of all ages come together with a shared purpose.”
If people would like to support the project, they can sign up to volunteer, donate via our GoFundMe, or apply for themselves or nominate someone for the pilot garden. The closing date for pilot garden applications is August 31st, and all forms can be found on the Facebook page.
The project has already attracted interest from local leaders, with meetings scheduled with the MP and the Mayor of Margate to explore ways of expanding its reach.
By working directly with households and offering practical, on-the-ground support, The Rerooted Project aims to tackle both the physical and emotional barriers that prevent people from enjoying their gardens.
Kerry said: “It’s about more than plants — it’s about skills, opportunities, and empowering communities from the ground up.”
What a great idea! Gardening can be a very rewarding experience, and is great all-year-round outdoor exercise.
Oppertunities and all the rest of it only if you are female though, Eh?
Fantastic idea gardens are wonderful lovely places for mental well being.
I’ve written some top tunes in my garden.
Is this only for the Margate area or for Thanet in general?
Seen much of Boy George lately?