Ellen Miles brings hope through plants with Guerrilla Gardening.

Ellen Miles brings hope through plants with Guerrilla Gardening.

Today, more people than ever live in cities, often characterized by concrete, glass and a disconnect with the natural environment. Access to nature is no longer a given.

The influence of Ellen Miles on urban greening

London-based environmental activist Ellen Miles, 31, is actively campaigning to change this. “Before urbanization, everyone always had access to nature,” Miles tells CNN. “Now nature often becomes an afterthought.” She founded the campaign in 2020Nature is a human right, which calls for everyday access to green spaces to be recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Frustrated by the slow pace of institutional change, Miles confessed: “I have lost faith in the top-down process.” So she took the reins into her own hands, with an unusual approach: instead of protest posters or petitions, she used seeds and shovels.

Guerrilla Gardening: Urban Activism with a Green Thumb

She became a so-called guerrilla gardener – “grassroots gardening in a public place, with a purpose,” Miles explains. “Think of it like graffiti, but with wildflowers instead of spray paint.” This form of urban activism aims to transform neglected or ignored places – cracks in the asphalt, roadsides, vacant lots – into mini oases for people, pollinators and biodiversity.

What began during the Covid pandemic – when parks were closed and access to green spaces was severely restricted – turned into a weekly ritual. Miles and her neighbors met every Sunday morning, armed with bulbs and small shovels, and planted in the often overlooked corners of London's Hackney.

Legal gray area of ​​guerrilla gardening

In Great Britain, guerrilla gardening oscillates in the legal gray area: While planting on public land without permission is not legally permitted, the authorities often ignore the actions - as long as there is no damage to property or public nuisance.

The Royal Horticultural Society advises guerrilla gardeners to ensure their plantings do not inconvenience others and do not restrict public access or create tripping hazards. It is also important that everything planted can be removed and that the roots do not cause structural damage to sidewalks and buildings.

The global movement of guerrilla gardening

The roots of guerrilla gardening go back to the 1970s, when the Green Guerrillas led by Liz Christy in the USA transformed abandoned plots of land into community gardens. The movement has now spread worldwide, from Ron Finley, the “Gangsta Gardener” in Los Angeles, to Ta Mere Nature in France and the Ujamaa Guerrilla Gardening Collective in South Africa.

The power of social media

Miles has brought the underground movement into the spotlight on platforms like TikTok and other social media. Her lively videos demystify the process, showing steps from creating seed bombs to planting moss spray - a form of street art that uses live moss to add patterns or words to walls. "I wasn't a gardener. I learned along the way," she admits. “But I just wanted the streets to be greener.”

Positive impact on health and community

As Miles’ seeds grew, so did her online audience. “Young people today are very sensitive to issues such as climate change, inequality and mental health,” says Miles. "Guerrilla gardening intersects with all of that. It's something you can do with your own hands and see the effects immediately."

“A lot of activism can seem intangible,” she adds. "With guerrilla gardening, you see the results. It's empowering." It's more than just symbolic: "Access to green spaces has been shown to be as important for mental and physical health as regular exercise and a healthy diet," Miles continues. "We need plants around us. The phytoncides (compounds that plants release into the air) make us feel better."

One study of 20,000 participants at the University of Exeter found that people who spend at least 120 minutes a week in green spaces reported significantly better physical health and mental wellbeing than those who did not. Small children have access to green spaces reduced hyperactivity and improved attention spans been associated. Communities can also benefit: A US study showed that greening abandoned properties can lead to lower crime rates.

Everyone can take part!

Miles' message is simple: everyone can get involved. “It’s spring now,” she says. “Find native wildflowers, scatter them when it rains, then you don’t even have to water them.” For those who want to delve deeper into the topic, Miles a book on the subject written and offers a free one four-week online course through the non-profit organization Earthed, which has already been joined by over 300 participants. She recommends gardening collaboratively – community is key.

Their vision is bold but refreshingly practical: “Why aren’t all our sidewalks lined with hedges?” asks Miles. "Our buildings could be covered in plants. Our roofs and bus stops could be blooming with flowers. It's a no-brainer."