{"id":197187,"date":"2026-09-05T11:43:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T11:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/197187\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T11:43:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T11:43:12","slug":"flourishing-green-communities-are-changing-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/197187\/","title":{"rendered":"Flourishing green communities are changing lives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Four projects have been nominated in the environmental category in BBC Radio Devon’s Make a Difference Awards.<\/p>\n

The Growing Well Garden in Bow, the Sampford Peverell Tree Wardens in mid-Devon, Shallowford Farm on Dartmoor, and Sustainable Hatherleigh are being recognised for making their communities more eco-friendly, wilder and healthier.<\/p>\n

They are doing this in a range of ways from planting trees and growing vegetables, to leading bug hunts and rediscovering nature.<\/p>\n

The winners of the Make a Difference awards are due to be announced on 24 September at Buckfast Abbey.<\/p>\n

\"Dr<\/p>\n

Dr Susan Taheri said “the most important thing we grow in our garden is people and connections” [BBC]<\/p>\n

Growing Well Garden is part of a green social prescribing project, where gardening is used as a therapeutic tool and helps a doctor connect with her patients in a different way.<\/p>\n

Dr Susan Taheri is an NHS GP at Bow Medical Practice and the founder of Growing Well Garden project – she said the scheme reignited her passion for being a GP.<\/p>\n

She said meeting patients in a garden can have benefits compared to seeing them a consulting room and describes the garden as her “happy place”.<\/p>\n

“There’s a lot more getting your hands dirty and not worrying too much about germs,” she said.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

Shallowford Farm teaches young people the value of being in nature [BBC]<\/p>\n

Shallowford Farm in the heart of Dartmoor aims to make rural life accessible.<\/p>\n

Retired horticulturalist Charles Staniland’s love for the outdoors started in early childhood and he now volunteers there, teaching young people to get their hands dirty.<\/p>\n

He said he wanted to show a more physical approach to food, that it doesn’t just show up on a plate, and that it’s something they can contribute to.<\/p>\n

Staniland hopes the project can “encourage a new generation to understand and value the world around them”.<\/p>\n

“It takes people out of a concrete environment – it’s a very good first step into a greener environment,” he said.<\/p>\n

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Sampford Peverell Tree Wardens planted around 750 trees to serve as a wildlife corridor [BBC]<\/p>\n

Sampford Peverell Tree Wardens are an independent, environmentally-focused, volunteer based group which takes care of the parish’s greenery.<\/p>\n

For Pete Drew and the other wardens, looking after the environment is a community effort, often powered by cake.<\/p>\n

The group plants, protects and maintains trees and hedges on publicly owned land, working with councils and landowners.<\/p>\n

He said it was about “taking pride in where you live and making local spaces better for everyone”.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Sustainable Hatherleigh works with people in the local community [BBC]<\/p>\n

Sustainable Hatherleigh runs a range of projects to support the community, from leading bug hunts and encouraging wildflowers and biodiversity in the local graveyard to community composting and running a repair caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

Their site in the middle of the town has now been recognised as a county wildlife site.<\/p>\n

Jo Pullin and Sustainable Hatherleigh hope to create a resilient future for the area.<\/p>\n

Jo Pullin from Sustainable Hatherleigh, Dr Susan Taheri from Growing Well Garden, Charles Staniland from Shallowford Farm and Pete Drew from Sampford Tree Wardens are finalists in the awards.<\/p>\n

Follow BBC Devon on X<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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