Meet the Team

Grow for Life horticultural sessions are led by our team of friendly gardeners.

Our team are renowned for being friendly, welcoming, encouraging and approachable.

Our staff have extensive experience of working with vulnerable adults. They are all DBS checked, trained in mental health first aid and are experienced social therapeutic horticulture practitioners.

Alex

Alex Eldridge is our Director. A local GP who is passionate about the impact of gardening on mental health. She also runs our first Partnership Garden team in Bath.

Wayne

Wayne is our Projects Manager. A qualified Permaculture designer, an ardent tree enthusiast, he is passionate about the restorative benefits of horticulture, regenerative, agreocological human-scale farming.

Eleanor

Eleanor is trained in social work, horticultural therapy and employment support. She has wide experience across both children and adult social care, including in mental health and disability.

Sophie

Sophie is our Administrator and also assists with our social media pages and communications.

Having also experienced the positive impact of volunteering with Grow for Life first-hand, she wishes to reach out to people who would also benefit from therapeutic gardening.

Iraklis

Iraklis hails from Greece and experienced the positive impact of Grow for Life and now gives back by helping to lead and co-lead various gardening groups. He is a passionate cook and loves using freshly grown herbs.

Katie

Katie is our finance manager. Katie has worked in the charity sector for many years and is passionate to use her financial knowledge to help the charity support people transform their lives through gardening.

Trustees

Grow for Life has a small board of trustees

Tristram

Tristram is Chair of Trustees. He has over 20 years leadership experience in the not for profit sector including in the humanitarian and conversation fields and as a trustee for numerous charities.

He loves working outdoors alongside others.

Ted

Ted Litchfield is co-founder of Grow for Life.

He runs his own garden design and maintenance business and has wide experience of working with young people with mental health issues.

Peg

Peg Bavin Butler is an avid gardener - together with her husband Simon, she grows vegetables, fruit and flowers.

Working for Send a Cow for the last 18 years has given her a knowledge of sustainable agriculture, gender and social inclusion, charity governance and fundraising.

Denise

Denise Weikert set up Life Skills Department for vulnerable adults at Genesis Trust, Bath, and continues to manage activities, groups and workshops.

She has a B.Ed degree and PG diploma in Health Promotion and has lectured in Health Studies. She has a passion for gardening and growing food from fork to plate.