In #WaterSavingWeek 2023, Waterwise is proud to announce its sponsorship of Leigh Johnstone, also known as the Beardy Gardener, at the upcoming RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Johnstone, who is an avid gardener and social media influencer, has gained a large following with his unique gardening style and dedication to sharing the joys of gardening with others.
The sponsorship will see Waterwise supporting Johnstone’s Giving Garden, a charitable initiative that aims to bring the benefits of gardening to those who are unable to garden for themselves. The Giving Garden was inspired by Johnstone’s personal experience during the pandemic and the fact that many people in the UK do not have access to gardens.
Through the Giving Garden, Johnstone invites people to nominate someone who is going through a tough time with their mental health and wellbeing to receive a plant dedication. Water efficiency will also be a feature of the garden and of the advice offered through the festival.
Leigh said ‘I am thrilled that Waterwise are sponsoring my Giving Garden at Hampton Court this year. Gardeners play an important role in water efficiency and there is no better way of giving back to the planet than reducing our water consumption. I can’t wait to show visitors tips and tricks and how this can be done and I am extremely excited about the partnership with Waterwise.’
Waterwise sees the Giving Garden as a wonderful initiative that aligns with our values, and we are thrilled to be supporting Leigh Johnstone in his efforts to make gardening accessible to all as well as highlighting top tips to help gardeners become more water efficient.
Nicci Russell, MD of Waterwise said ‘We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Beardy Gardener’s Giving Garden! We found Leigh during lockdown and his videos about gardening and mental health are a joy. We know how much gardening and nature means to people, which is why it’s so important to protect the water we have, to make sure there’s enough to go round. Leigh’s gardening is good for mental health as well as the environment, and we’re proud to announce this partnership on ‘Water and Everyday Life’ day of this year’s Water Saving Week. We are running out of water in the UK, but that doesn’t mean we can’t garden. Mental health is also a subject close to my own heart, and I will be nominating someone to receive a plant dedication from the Giving Garden.’
The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival will take place from 5-11 July 2023. Waterwise encourages everyone to come and visit the Giving Garden and support the work of the Beardy Gardener.
About Us
Waterwise is an independent not-for-profit campaigning organisation, and the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK. Our vision is that water will be used wisely, every day, everywhere, by everyone. We receive funding from Waterwise Supporters and Affiliates across the UK water sector and beyond, and from sponsorship, research and delivery projects.
Leigh Johnstone aka ‘The Beardy Gardener’ is a theatre director turned gardener who rediscovered his passion for plants during lockdown, where he says his garden ‘quite literally saved my life’. He is an active mental health campaigner, using his past struggles to advocate for the power of gardening to improve wellbeing. He does this through his popular Instagram page where he can often be found having a little boogie. His videos have been viewed over a million times.
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