Do London Differently podcast
Ep.20. Cultivate Colindale
This August, Wayward and Energy Garden joined forces to transform 4,000 m² of vacant land beside Heybourne Park, Colindale, into a lively public destination, a meanwhile space for sustainability, creativity and community. We visited to record the Do London Differently podcast with Wayward Directors Heather Ring and Thomas Kendall at their new site: Cultivate Colindale.
Wayward’s bold home for reuse, growing and community
This interview with Heather Ring and Thomas Kendall was recorded on-site for the Do London Differently podcast. Hear the full story of reuse, community and Cultivate Colindale, plus how thousands of rescued plants will find their way into green spaces across London.
A new chapter for the House of Wayward Plants
At the heart of Cultivate Colindale will be the House of Wayward Plants Reuse Centre, building on Wayward’s decade as the Royal Horticultural Society’s Official Reuse Partner. The model is simple and brilliant: rescue plants, trees and landscaping materials from shows and construction sites; revive them; then redistribute them to community projects that need them most.
Over the years, Wayward has:
Rehomed 100,000+ plants and trees to 1,000+ community groups and schools
Diverted more than 500 tonnes of waste from landfill
Grown a London-wide network of nearly 2,000 green spaces ready to adopt surplus plants and materials
Cultivate Colindale gives this circular mission a permanent(ish) base—“a place to put down roots,” as Heather puts it, so Wayward can scale up propagation, storage and distribution, and welcome volunteers, partners and neighbours into the story.
What’s on site: a walk-through
Reuse Centre & Materials Yard
The arrival point for rescued plants, trees and reclaimed landscape materials. Here they’re assessed, brought back to life and matched to community projects. A future workshop and site office will support training and live-build activity.
Propagation Greenhouse
A buzzing “propagation station” for cuttings and seed-saving, fed not only by RHS shows like Chelsea and Hampton Court, but also by supermarkets, garden centres and landscape contractors. The goal: grow on rescued stock so more groups across London (and beyond) can receive free plants.
Courtyard
A social, programmable heart for the site, somewhere to sit, share lunch, host workshops, screenings or a neighbourhood feast.
Workshop Greenhouse (Cultural Hub)
A flexible, bookable space for making, learning and celebrating: think gallery one day, community supper the next. Expect exhibitions, talks, repair cafés and skills sessions.
Allotments
Beds for local residents, colleges and community groups to grow food and learn by doing. Wayward and Energy Garden will support with regular sessions and seasonal programming.
Tree Nursery & Pavilion
An outdoor classroom and nursery for donated trees, grown on for local planting schemes across Barnet and North London.
Biodiverse Meadow & Nature Play
The other half of the site will be allowed to emerge as meadow, stitched with playful, low-impact features, den-building and nature-based learning.
The circular economy – now for landscapes
There’s growing momentum in the built environment around reuse and circularity. As Tom notes, the landscape has often been missing from that conversation. Community gardens, however, have been quietly pioneering it for years, making, mending and landscaping with reclaimed materials because budgets demand it and creativity thrives on constraint.
Cultivate Colindale is designed to bridge sectors:
Partnering with developers, local authorities and construction firms to intercept plants and materials before they become waste
Redistributing to a ready-to-grow network of schools, hospitals, community gardens and resident-led projects
Providing a test-bed where reclaimed materials are put to beautiful, everyday use
A meeting place for old and new Colindale
This is a meanwhile site (5–10 years) delivered in partnership with Notting Hill Genesis, who are leading regeneration in the area. Crucially, Cultivate Colindale sits between established neighbourhoods and new homes, right on the edge of Heybourne Park.
Heather and Tom are clear: the site is a melting pot—somewhere old and new residents can meet over gardening sessions, allotment tending, creative workshops and shared meals. Local schools and colleges will use the space for classes; nearby community gardens are already receiving plants; and a curatorial programme is forming with local artists to bring culture, craft and climate action together.
Energy Garden x Wayward
Wayward has invited Energy Garden—the community benefit society behind solar-powered gardens and education programmes across London—to co-lead regular participation on site. Together they’ll host open gardening sessions every Wednesday and Friday, with more activities rolling out as greenhouses, allotments and the pavilion come online.
Get involved
Volunteer: The site is being built with volunteers, propagating, planting, sorting materials, painting, and helping host events.
Adopt plants & materials: If you manage a community garden, school, hospital or local project, join Wayward’s distribution network.
Grow locally: Register interest for allotment beds and skills sessions.
Partner up: Developers, contractors, garden centres and public bodies—talk to Wayward about redirecting surplus stock to community use.
Sign up: Join the mailing list via wayward.co.uk and follow @waywardplants on Instagram for upcoming sessions, adoption days and events.
Weekly gardening: Wednesdays & Fridays with Energy Garden at Cultivate Colindale (check socials for times and meeting point).
Listen to the conversation
This interview with Heather Ring and Thomas Kendall was recorded on-site for the Do London Differently podcast. Hear the full story of reuse, community and Cultivate Colindale—plus how thousands of rescued plants will find their way into green spaces across London.
Credits & partners
Wayward • Energy Garden • Notting Hill Genesis • Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)
More From This Series
This is a new season of the London National Park City Podcast – we’re calling it Do London Differently. Hosted by Ranger Emily Langston. Produced and co-hosted by Michael Shilling.
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