CAMPBELL JOHN Welcome Gardeners are generous by nature, but there are those who really go above and beyond. This issue, we have decided to celebrate extraordinary people who give their time to good causes, who campaign and advocate for change, who innovate in the face of challenges like the climate and biodiversity crises, and who dedicate themselves to caring for and developing opportunities for others. We have named these garden champions our 2024 Horticultural Heroes, and throughout this issue of the magazine, you will find interesting interviews, profiles, stories and insights into the amazing things happening across the industry. You can learn more about some of the inspiring individuals who are making a real difference in our special feature on page 38. Community gardens and public urban green spaces are becoming increasingly important, and this month we have two beautiful gardens with community at their heart: Sarah Price’s design for The Exchange in Erith, southeast London (page 50), and Nigel Dunnett’s exciting planting design for a vibrant city rooftop (page 74). We also find out how sustainable designer Miria Harris managed to create a no-skip but stylish garden (page 60). Elsewhere, professional gardener turned natural farmer Joshua Sparkes explains what led him to ditch traditional methods and embrace a different philosophy of growing (page 82); Dr Richard Claxton details all the science-backed ways that gardening is good for your health (page 80); and Charlotte Harris offers insights on how to design inclusive, accessible spaces (page 92). We know this barely scratches the surface and there are many more wonderful people doing incredible things for places, people, plants and the planet. Get in touch and let us know who your heroes are, and why – we’d love to hear from you. STEPHANIE MAHON, EDITOR ONLINE THIS MONTH Click here to see Troy Scott Smith’s expert advice on how to stop birds eating your lawn seed. Instagram @gardens_illustrated Twitter @GdnsIllustrated Facebook @gardensillustrated I N D E R I S A L L Heroes (from left) Sarah Wilson, Henry Agg, Maggie Haynes and Kate Bradbury. Discover their stories on page 38. OCTOBER 2024 gardensillustrated.com 3