Honest, our organic herbal tea drink brand, is helping communities go green by partnering with environmental charity Groundwork and former BBC Countryfile presenter Julia Bradbury. Here’s how the projects are turning building sites into flourishing gardens.

According to recent research released by Honest, our first organic drink to be launched in Great Britain, 49% of Brits said daily life would be improved if they had easier access to green space, while 65% admitted that being outdoors makes them happier. On average, we’d like to spend an extra 100 minutes a week relaxing in nature, with lots of us aspiring to grow our own fruit, herbs and vegetables at home.

“Knowing you’ve done a little bit of good can help with the feeling of balance in daily life.” – Honest brand ambassador and TV presenter Julia Bradbury

Honest brand ambassador and TV presenter Julia Bradbury says getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is crucial for our wellbeing. “It’s really important we make the time to switch off a little from daily pressures, and getting outside in open green spaces can be a quick way to do that. There are lots of easy ways to help restore your balance, from spending more time in a park or community garden, growing your own fruit or veg at home – even just in a window box! – or finding ways to give back to your community, through volunteering at a local community project or even just recycling every day. Knowing you’ve done a little bit of good can help with the feeling of balance in daily life.”

Julia Bradbury helps out at Groundwork’s Mobile City Garden in Stratford.

Honest supports the Good Life

This summer, with the help of Julia Bradbury, Honest announced their partnership with Groundwork London – Great Britain’s leading community gardening charity that transforms neighbourhoods by creating greener spaces and promoting more sustainable living.

Honest have been putting their green fingers to good use by helping out at Groundwork’s Mobile City Garden at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This temporary community garden is designed to be ‘movable’ and makes use of pre-development sites until they are ready to be built on.

“We’re really excited to be working with Honest who are supporting our efforts to bring more green spaces to busy urban communities.” – Ben Coles, Groundwork's Director of Communities and Local Partnerships

To kick-start their new partnership with Groundwork, Honest is supporting the Energy Garden Initiative, a project that works across London to create community gardening opportunities in busy urban areas. Their first achievement together will be moving the Stratford Mobile City Garden to a new location at Hackney Wick overground station, where it will be transformed into a new Energy Garden within the local community.

Ben Coles, Groundwork's Director of Communities and Local Partnerships, says: “We’re really excited to be working with Honest who are supporting our efforts to bring more green spaces to busy urban communities. Green spaces and the opportunity to do some gardening can play an incredibly important role in busy urban communities, especially city centres.”

Local residents pitch in at Groundwork’s Mobile City Garden in Stratford.

What is an 'Energy Garden'?

London’s Energy Garden initiative is led by Repowering London, Groundwork London and Transport for London. The non-profit initiative aims to create community gardening opportunities on and around the London Overground network, using community-owned solar energy systems to generate funding for ongoing garden maintenance. Over the next two years, they’re helping to transform 50 London Overground platforms across London into ‘Energy Gardens’.

“Working with Honest in helping us champion green spaces, community gardens and the Energy Garden approach is a great opportunity to shine an even bigger light on what we are trying to achieve across the capital." – Founder of Energy Garden, Agamemnon Otero

Groundwork’s Ben Coles says: “The Energy Garden programme's current focus on available space on or around the rail network means we can provide even more opportunities for Londoners to get involved in activating spaces for all the benefits that gardening can bring. The uniqueness of Energy Garden's is that resources will be available to support gardening groups over many years with training, support, plants and celebratory events.”

Founder of Energy Garden, Agamemnon Otero adds: “Working with Honest in helping us champion green spaces, community gardens and the Energy Garden approach is a great opportunity to shine an even bigger light on what we are trying to achieve across the capital."

Find out more about HONEST® from co-founder and ‘TeaEO’, Seth Goldman.