Grenfell gardener quits RHS 'toxic relationship'

A Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) ambassador, who is known as the "Grenfell guerrilla gardener" for his community work following the 2017 tragedy, has left the role over what he describes as a "toxic relationship".

Tayshan Hayden-Smith announced his departure ahead of the Chelsea Flower Show - the RHS's flagship event.

He said working with the charity has "often felt at odds" with his mission.

The RHS said it delivered "one of the biggest national community gardening initiatives" around the country.

Mr Hayden-Smith's community gardening began in Ladbroke Grove, west London, after the Grenfell Tower fire and he was appointed by the RHS in 2022 to help the organisation reach out to younger and disadvantaged people.

He said he took up the role "well-intentioned and optimistic", hoping to "shift access" and "redistribute resource and wealth" within horticulture to more communities.

He told BBC Radio London that he grew up just down the road from the Chelsea Flower Show - but said no one in his community knew about it.

He highlighted the stark inequality within the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, contrasting the wealthy south, where the show is located, with the north, where residents are affected by issues like air pollution.

"My experience of coming into this space (RHS) was because of Grenfell where people didn't feel worthy of safe, healing beautiful space," Mr Hayden-Smith said.

The 28-year-old said he shifted his focus from a promising career in football following the Grenfell Tower fire, when he tended an unused piece of land in the local area.

It later grew into the Grenfell Garden of Peace and Mr Hayden-Smith launched the Grow to Know non-profit organisation to promote gardening.

He said he hoped his engagement with the RHS would help "redistribute access" to the Chelsea Flower Show - and gardening more widely - to the local community.

On his three years working with the RHS, Mr Hayden-Smith said: "I felt devalued, underestimated, and experienced a lot of difficulty and discomfort unnecessarily when trying to present and provide solutions.

"I felt like a nuisance and an annoyance."

He also criticised the charity for the cost of entering the Chelsea Flower Show - tickets can vary from about £60 to £140 for non-members – as well as the funding it offers to community gardening projects.

"That for me was an uncomfortable thing to sit with," Mr Hayden-Smith said.

"Chelsea Flower Show is a very much a place where there's a lot of wealth. There are gardens that cost £600,000 to £700,000 for a six day showing."

A spokesperson for the RHS said the charity has supported Mr Hayden-Smith's Grow to Know organisation in North Kensington with funds of £30,000 for a community garden.

"We also hosted and funded a fundraising event for the same community garden, asked local RHS members to support the project, and took part in a community engagement event with planting activities.

"The RHS delivers one of the biggest national community gardening initiatives, investing millions in school gardening, community outreach and grassroots projects around the whole country."

The spokesperson added the RHS has partnerships to introduce wellbeing gardens at NHS facilities.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]