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Meet our Team
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Manager
Nick
Nick has a wide range of responsibilities, including making sure all our services stay on track with the charity's mission and values, developing and maintaining partnerships, and exploring new opportunities. But what he really enjoys is being in the gardens and seeing people thrive as a result of their involvement. Day to day, he plans activities around who's coming in, and the needs of the gardens themselves.
Working in horticulture for 35 years and his STH diploma and post-16 PGCE leads the propagation and market gardening workshops,
The Growing Space started life in the Wincanton community venture garden subcommittee, back in July 2000. It has never really changed what it set out to do: get people outdoors, working alongside each other, in a way that quietly takes the stigma out of things like mental health, without ever having to say so out loud.
Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Practictioner
Kate
Kate supports people to build confidence, wellbeing and connection through purposeful activity in nature. She creates calm, welcoming garden spaces where people can learn practical growing skills, work alongside others and feel part of a supportive community. Her approach is person-centred, gentle and practical, using the rhythms of the seasons, shared tasks and time outdoors to encourage confidence, routine, creativity and independence.
Kate understands the value of working at each person’s pace, whether that means sowing seeds, tending plants, joining a group activity or simply spending time in a safe green space.
She is passionate about the benefits of horticulture for mental health, social connection and personal growth, and believes gardens can help people feel grounded, valued and more able to take positive steps in everyday life.
Nature Arts & Crafts Practitioner
Helen
Experienced artist and facilitator over 25 years, Helen’s background in illustration includes creating art and craft with people of all ages; she brings training and teaching qualifications to the amazing team. She is most interested in Lifelong Learning and reducing barriers. Living nearby, Helen loves drawing and painting outdoors and has shown her art at Bruton Art Society’s annual exhibition.
Creating safe spaces for people to engage with plants, flora and fauna in new ways is important to Helen’s practice, encouraging hands on engagement. Kindness is Helen’s mantra; often told she is patient. Helen is curious and creative and keen to help people harness their own curiosity and creativity.
Sessions with Helen focus on spending reflective time in the beautiful gardens of the Growing Space and Balsam Centre, noticing, and enjoying connections. We create in the garden or other undercover spaces with views over the garden. Please join us!
Growing Space Administrator
Lindsay
Lindsay helps keep The Growing Space running smoothly behind the scenes, making sure the practical details are cared for so the charity’s nature-based work can flourish.
Lindsay lives locally and has worked mostly in retail, care and community projects. Alongside her role at The Growing Space, she can also be found on reception at The Balsam Centre — two roles that fit together naturally and keep her closely connected to the local community.
Fundraising Officer
Alex
Alex plays a key role in securing the funding that helps Growing Space thrive. Working with trusts, foundations and grant-makers, she develops funding applications and nurtures relationships with supporters who believe in our mission.
Our trustees
Our trustees play a vital role in leading our charity and are ultimately responsible for its work, assets and activities.
Rooted in our local community, they bring a valuable mix of skills and experience across health and wellbeing, business, finance, charity work and management. They make sure every donation and grant is used responsibly, set the policies that guide our work, shape our future plans, and protect the values and reputation at the heart of our charity.
Mike Rowlands - Chair of Trustees
Following a stint of over 14 years in the Royal Navy concluding as a Lieutenant on a short career commission in the Supply branch, Mike then moved on to the educational charity sector with Fairfield Farm Trust as Finance and Resources Manager. He enjoyed over 30 years with Fairfield, helping it to grow into a thriving further educational college for young people with learning disabilities. His next challenge was to take on the role of Operations Manager of the CAT Bus for 4.5 years, where he was responsible for the safe running of a fleet of up to 6 community transport minibuses, its staff and customers. Mike is a keen tennis player, enjoys walks in the local countryside and travelling abroad. He has been Chairman of the Growing Space since 2022.
Simon Edwards - Secretary and Trustee
Simon lives in Shepton Mallet. Until his recent retirement, he held a senior role at NHS Somerset, much of it spent in community and mental health services and the charitable sector, including local hospices — giving him a strong sense of how health and wellbeing help people lead positive lives. Since retiring, he's thrown himself into his passion for gardening and the outdoors. A recently elected town councillor, Simon leads on horticulture and ecology initiatives. He sits on the Horticultural Society committee and is a director of Shepton Mallet's Snowdrop Festival, having personally planted thousands of snowdrops across the town. A strong advocate for volunteering, he's especially keen on helping people — particularly young people — connect with nature.
Deborah Xavier - Trustee
Deborah lives in Wincanton and is a keen gardener and believer in the therapeutic benefits of gardening. For her day job, Deborah is Head of Fundraising and Communications at SWEDA, a charity which supports people with eating disorders across the South & West. Deborah has worked in and for charities for over 20 years including stints as CEO of London youth charity The Brokerage and several years as a consultant helping small charities to grow and thrive. Moving to South Somerset just over 3 years ago, Deborah is delighted to support a charity that gives everyone a chance to grow something in this special community space at the heart of Wincanton.
Michael Bainbridge - Trustee
Michael lives in Castle Cary but is frequently in Wincanton. He works in the NHS and is a qualified healthcare manager. In his spare time he enjoys walking in the beautiful countryside in our local area with his wife and dog. He was born in Bath and has spent most of his life in Somerset.