Trisha Wells – Patron

Trisha is a founding member of the Richmond Community Garden Trust and a great supporter and cheerleader in getting the front space activated, her level head and eye for details have helped the trust get to where it is today. Trisha has stepped back from the Governance position but continues to volunteer at the garden regularly, is involved in the nitty gritty of each element and keeps our garden beds super tidy.

Hayley Guglietta – Chairperson MBA (UC)

Hayley is a founding member of the trust, does the majority of the propagation for the garden at her house, puts her business skills to good use by doing all the garden administration, funding applications and accounting as a volunteer. She manages the beehives on site and loves seeing the food forest understory developing each year, growing our local economy with job creation and seeing the site develop into a wonderful space for people to hang out.

Jen McBride – Trustee, Graphic Designer B.Des (CPIT)

Jen is a self-employed graphic designer and artist who enjoys gardening and hanging out at the community gardens where she can. Jen is the community gardens artistic director, website developer, responsible for much of the branding and signage at RCG, as well as lending her skills in weaving (hazel weaving, string making, bamboo teepees etc).

Cathy Allden – Treasurer and former Garden Coordinator

Cathy is a founding member of the trust, responsible for day to day operations on the ground and procurement of garden resources, Health and Safety, recruitment of volunteers, support, retain and nurture our team. Communications and logistics include deliveries, workshops, media, community networking, accountability reports, community outreach projects. On the ground planting, propagation, general maintenance (hubby and mens shed!), assistant to Julie making products for the Little Shop. Event working groups and fundraising. Cathy enjoys the continuous learning and home economy skills that a community garden provides, meeting people and advocating for the regeneration of the Avon Otakaro River Red Zone.

Damion Chalmers – Garden Ranger

 I’ve been part of this great community for almost 3 years now and it’s been a great learning and working experience. Here you can see ways to care for the gardens, meet new people and enjoy the wide range of projects that started this eco-friendly place

Julie Crook – Trustee, Head of ‘Little Shop’ Product Development

Julie is a founding member of the trust, originally from Atherton, UK, she came out here in 2011 for a holiday with their two boys to see if they would like to live here they loved it! The earthquake had not long since happened. Julie and her family visited at Easter for 3 weeks and enjoyed themselves very much. They came to live in 2013 and ended up living in Richmond and were looking for a group to join. Averbury house was asking for people to help set up the old garden again and it all started from there and today she makes chutneys, Jam, balms for the little shop and her famous sausage rolls for morning tea.

Rob Collins- Trustee

Gardening has always been one of my interests along with DIY and travelling. I have been living in Richmond for over 30 years and one of the highlights since retiring has been working as a volunteer at the Richmond Community Gardens for the last 4 or 5 years.
I’ve been excited to have recently become a board member as well. The great thing about RCG is that no two days are the same because of the variety of tasks, such as gardening workshops, and learning about recycling just to name a few. But, at the heart of it all is the amazing volunteers and meeting the many visitors that pass through the garden.

Our Vision

We are a pioneer organisation leading the charge in food resilience, ecological restoration and community engagement in the Red Zone.