Grab your pitchforks and trowels, it’s time to cause some plantarchy! 

That’s probably what the phrase ‘guerilla gardening’ conjures up for you. Rebels in overalls, splattered with soil, bunches of carrots swinging in protest. 

But what if we told you that guerilla gardeners can be anyone? Your colleague. Your neighbour. Your friend. It could even be you. 

Just grab some seeds, some ambition with a splash of gumption, and find yourself a piece of unloved, derelict land - and you’ll be well on your way to channelling your inner guerilla gardener. 

(And we’ve got just the products to help you do so).

With half of England being owned by only 1% of the population, it’s our prerogative to enjoy any land we can, however small.  

Because, for most of us, outdoor space is becoming harder and harder to find. So it’s time to reclaim what spaces we can - from skyscrapers and rooftop gardens to carparks.

But, what’s this got to do with B2B? (Bulbs to bees?) 

Big brands are watching, learning, and extrapolating guerilla gardening’s ideas and ethos, adapting it for the corporate sphere. 

Through letting nature take over their offices, incorporating plants into their marketing strategy to constructing campuses around new groundbreaking sustainability techniques, brands are guerilla gardening their 9-5, with amazing results. 

Exhibiting just how a little bit of plant power can go a long way to making your brand stand out.

Let nature win and empower your brand by guerilla gardening your 9-5. 

And we can help you get started with the greenest and leafiest living promotions. From seedballs to fully-fledged foliage - check out our full range of brandable plants to grow your brand the natural way.  

What’s guerilla gardening?

Guerilla gardening, in essence, is the act of gardening where you’re not supposed to.

Or at least, where you’re not traditionally supposed to. 

It’s a grassroots environmental activism movement where communities and individuals take it upon themselves to take care of neglected private or public land. 

Technically, guerilla gardeners don’t have a legal right to cultivate the land.

“Guerilla gardening is direct action where people plant in public spaces - with purpose, usually without permission.”

Ellen Miles, author of Get Guerilla Gardening

But, to guerilla gardeners, rewilding whatever land they can, however small, however derelict, however frowned upon, is far more important than whether it’s legal to do so or not. 

With our concrete, cities, and pavements, 69% of our planet will be turned into cities by 2060. But it’s only been in the last 0.01% of our history that we’ve become so disconnected from nature. 

“Concrete already outweighs every tree bush and shrub on earth, and more of it is poured out every minute.” 

Ellen Miles, author of Get Guerilla Gardening 

A brief history of guerilla gardening

There have been examples of guerilla gardening throughout history; it’s not a modern movement by any stretch of the imagination.

The very first recorded use of the term ‘guerilla gardening’ was by Liz Christy in 1973. 

However, communities have been cultivating and protecting their green spaces, usually during times of civil unrest, throughout history.  

Guerilla gardening is thought to be prevalent today thanks to the Cost of Living crisis, the uncertain political climate, and global warming.

The first guerilla gardeners

Unfortunately, we’ll never know who the very first guerilla gardeners were. 

During the 13th century, Enclosure Law was introduced by parliament to systematically privatise commons in the UK. This meant that people all over the country lost their legal access to land that they had previously relied upon for food, shelter, medicine, etc. 

However, like guerilla gardeners today, even though a quarter of the UK was now privately owned, this didn’t stop communities from using the land illegally to keep themselves fed; they just had to keep very, very quiet about it. 

The Surrey Diggers

In 1649, agrarian socialists responded to the aristocracy taking ownership of common land through privatising commons by rallying a group of 40 radicals known as the Surrey Diggers. These rebels started to plant vegetables on St George’s Hill, Weybridge, to try and help feed those struggling with malnutrition - which had increased significantly since land privatisation. 

The group’s leader, Gerrard Winstanley, made sure everyone knew what they were doing by publishing campaigning papers. 

“The Earth a Common Treasury for All, both Rich and Poor, That everyone that is born in the Land may be fed by the Earth.”

The Surrey Diggers, 1649

Sadly, the group were eventually driven off the land by local landowners (with military support) citing illegal assembly, riot and trespass. 

The 20th Century 

In the USA, the 1960s and 1970s saw a lot of growth for the guerilla gardening movement. 

Locals were recorded reclaiming abandoned land around their districts and turning them into community gardens. Projects like People’s Park in California and Liz Christy’s ‘Green Guerillas’ in New York saw abandoned lots being transformed into community gardens. 

Back in the UK in 1999, Leaf Street in Manchester caught the attention of the public as residents transformed a patch of land between flats to create their community garden. 

Modern-day efforts

Cited as the modern online home of guerilla gardeners, guerillagardening.org was created in October 2004 by Richard Reynolds to record his own experiences of guerilla gardening around London’s Elephant and Castle. His site became the go-to for guerilla gardeners all over the world for inspiration, education, and motivation. 

From brave individuals to group projects, modern-day guerilla gardeners can be found everywhere. 

For example, most councils will ignore guerilla gardeners, however, there’s the fun example of “The Human Shrub” Colchester Council was trying to find. He often protests against the council, trying to protect his local green spaces from development. 

Or, how about Ron Finley, dubbed “The Gangsta Gardener”? 

In 2010, he was asked by LA authorities to destroy the roadside verge he’d been cultivating as they argued it was obstructing the pavement. He refused and ended up launching a campaign that was backed by global media. The council eventually backed down - and the law in the area was changed - and most importantly, the plants survived! 

Then there’s Djo Bankuna, or “The Cabbage Bandit”, who, in South Africa in 2021, ended up representing himself in court and winning his case for planting brassicas beside the street. 

And then there’s Ellen Miles, a public speaker, activist and guerrilla gardener who’s spearheading a new wave of guerrilla gardening. She’s written a bestselling book on guerilla gardening (Get Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Planting in Public Places) and has over 15,000 followers under her handle octaviachill. She’s currently campaigning for access to green nature to be enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Guerilla gardening has also brought a lot of hope to communities. For example, after the shocking and devastating Grenfell Tower fire, the community rallied together to create the Grenfell Garden of Peace in remembrance of those who died.

Read more: 5 plant influencers your brand can learn from

International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day 

The 1st of May has now been coined the International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day, where individuals and communities will go around sowing sunflower seeds everywhere they can in their local areas. 

Want to get involved? Check out our range of brandable seeds. From seeded business cards and coasters to herbs - we’ll print, package and brand them, ready to send out to your existing or prospective customers. 

“Guerilla gardening is just about taking back what is ours, and using space in ways which are productive, fair and beneficial to the people and the planet, rather than being just low maintenance areas for councils to neglect.”

Ellen Miles

Is guerilla gardening illegal?

Technically, guerilla gardening is in a legal grey area. It’s at the centre of the debate between land rights, land reform and land ownership. 

It all depends on what land you’re cultivating to guerilla gardening legality. 

If you’re digging on private property, you’re trespassing. You could even be considered as damaging property. 

However, there are no laws directly prohibiting guerilla gardening. 

In 2022, a report in the International Journal of Crime, Media, Culture described guerilla gardening as “a form of urban intervention that is broadly accepted and welcomed, even by those who enforce the law”. 

That’s why, if you’re planting in a public space, most councils let you continue. Just, under the radar (channel your inner sneaky sneaky). 

How to guerilla garden within the law

If you’re ready to become a secret seed-throwing superhero, there are a few things you need to be aware of before you start guerilla gardening if you want to stay on the right side of the law: 

Don’t make permanent changes 

As long as the changes you make aren’t permanent (luckily, plants don’t count as permanent), then you’ll most likely be ignored by the council and law enforcement. Just be sure your plants won't damage any nearby buildings, as this could be considered criminal damage. 

Be cautious of public endangerment & nuisance 

Keep the area where you’re working safe - think about the general public. Don’t leave your tools lying around, and don’t plant anything toxic. Also, make sure you’re not working too late or being too loud. 

Make sure your plants are legal

Make sure the plants you’re planting are legal. In 2000, there was the case of guerilla gardeners being accused of planting cannabis seeds in central London - definitely illegal. 

Also, make sure the plants you’re planting are safe, native, and not harmful to the environment or invasive. Some species are prohibited by law! 

Research your local laws

The best advice if you are fearing repercussions: look up the laws where you are! Start a conversation with your local council (as they’ll most likely own the land) and get as many people involved as possible to make it a community effort. 

Who can get involved?

Everyone and anyone! 

Guerilla gardening is all about community ownership and belonging. 

The movement can include the whole community or just be a solo project. From children to the elderly, there’s no age limit to gardening, and it’s a great way to bridge the gap between different demographics in an area. 

Reasons to become a guerilla gardener

There’re numerous reasons as to why someone might get involved in guerilla gardening. 

It might be for: 

• Fighting for land ownership
• Social justice
• Political reasons
• Mental health-related reasons 
• Biodiversity or the planet
• Improving their home 

How to become a guerilla gardener

Notice little areas of abandoned land or pockets of ugly empty spaces? Why not do some research and plant some pretty native plants there? From plant donations, spenny garden shopping trips to just throwing seeds as you go past, there are several different tactics you can take to turn your local abandoned plots from beige to foliage. 

Join a guerilla gardening group

There are plenty of guerilla gardening groups online - find your local one through Facebook or other socials to get planting now.

And if there are no local groups around, why not start your own? 

Social media is also a great tool to use for gathering free seeds, equipment and green-fingered heroes. 

“It’s cool because it’s doing something meaningful and purposeful. It’s not just about like, trying to feel rebellious as like an individual”. 

Ellen Miles

Throw some seedballs 

Seedballs are one of the easiest (and most cost-effective) ways to plant seeds quickly, whilst still protecting them from hungry predators (looking at you, Mr Robin). 

Seedballs are little balls of paper pulp with seeds mixed in. They’re super effective at protecting the seeds from being eaten until they can plant themselves safely into the soil. 

And they’re so easy to sow. Just throw them! Seriously, that’s all you have to do - nature will take care of the rest. 

We have a varied selection of different types of seedballs to choose from, including wildflower seeds, a bee mix, butterfly favourites and urban meadow, to name a few. We supply these seedballs in 100% recycled matchboxes that make a fantastic branded gift or giveaway for sharing your brand’s sustainability initiatives with your clients and customers.

Order your own branded seedballs now!

Get planting 

It’s pretty simple to become a guerilla gardener - you just need to get planting in your local public space! 

But if you’re not that green-fingered but still want to do some plantable goodness, did you know that we plant a tree with every order? We do this through our partner Ecologi, who are restoring our natural forests, one tree at a time. Check out our Fluid forest so far! 

Or, if you want to do something a little bit wilder, we can help fund habitat restoration instead. From wildflowers to wetlands and wildlife habitats, we can help protect as little as 1㎡ for your brand when you order through us. For more information, get in touch with us today. 

The benefits of greener spaces in urban areas 

It’s been predicted that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, having barely any access to green outside spaces. 

Having a connection to nature is not only beneficial to our mental, physical and social wellbeing, but also for our wildlife and planet, too. 

They bring communities together 

Having more green spaces in urban areas has been shown to improve a community’s overall wellbeing. Studies show that those who live in cities experience more stress, anxiety and depression, leading to more substance abuse and crime. 

However, for every 1% increase in total green space, there is a 1.2% decrease in violent crime.

They promote environmental stewardship 

If communities are given the opportunity and responsibility to look after a piece of land, this very act of perceived ownership and care allows for communities to thrive. 

They help prevent climate change 

Having more green spaces in urban areas has a threefold effect on preventing climate change. 

1. The community feels more connected to the environment and planet, and therefore, climate change, which encourages them to tackle it in other areas of their lives (such as with more recycling and less littering). 
2. The soil from these areas helps with water runoff when it rains, stopping drains from overflowing and the foundations of houses from becoming brittle. 
3. They provide educational spaces for schools to herald a grassroots approach to learning about climate change and how to prevent it. 

They make an area more pleasant 

Especially in large towns and cities, having little pockets of greenery helps improve the area and makes it a generally more pleasant place to live. 

Air quality is better, thanks to those little leafy friends doing what they do best. Pollution is absorbed, and the urban heat island effect is reduced. 

DEFRA published their Clean Air strategy back in 2019, stating that we needed to quickly reduce toxic pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and sulfur dioxide from our environments. 

And what do you know, plants are a vital part of helping us do this. 

Green walls on buildings (when entire building faces are covered in greenery) help with ‘evaporative chilling’, which is when the green walls absorb heat and then release it back into the atmosphere by ‘evapotranspiration’. This means that if there are enough plants in an area, theoretically, you can lower the temperature in those densely populated areas. 

Plus, property prices even increase with properties nearer to green spaces being put on the market at prices 20% higher than similar properties in less plant-rich areas.

They boost biodiversity 

Concrete isn’t exactly wildlife-friendly, so having areas of greenery in urban areas is a godsend to wildlife and plant life. 

The fact is, thanks to our continuously growing urban landscape, we now have a biodiversity crisis. We need to ensure we plant native species that are more likely to survive with the soil, weather and rainfall in certain environments.

From bees to mice to insects, they’re all suffering, thanks to our penchant for concrete. 

Plant bee-friendly pollinators or sweet treats like berries or brambles, and give not only yourself an opportunity to harvest some delicious fruits but the animals, too. 

Planting milkweed helps monarch butterflies, and with 35 species of bees currently under threat of extinction here in the UK, they need all the help they can get from us.

Biodiversity Net Gain is now a mandatory requirement in the UK for developers, local planning authorities and land managers looking to sell. Basically, the construction industry is being encouraged to preserve, protect and enhance natural habitats - a construction-friendly form of guerilla gardening. 

With this in mind, schemes are popping up in urban communities helping to keep their green areas thriving. 

Kew Gardens in London has partnered with communities across the UK with their Grow Wild scheme that offers grants to enable groups to transform unloved spaces into biodiversity havens. The main aim of the project: to “bring people together to value and enjoy UK-native wildflowers, plants and fungi.” 

Read more: Save the bees with Nestlé

Green building innovations 

A solution for making urban areas more green that a lot of brands are now adopting is making the buildings plants themselves. Sounds futuristic, right? 

Essentially, guerilla gardening buildings from the inside out. 

But, it’s not futuristic at all. Back in the day, stone, clay and plants were common building materials. For example, cob houses. And a lot of these structures are still standing today. 

However, nowadays, these traditional building techniques fill insurers with fear (have you tried insuring a thatched roof house? Wouldn’t recommend it). That’s because buildings with such highly flammable materials are seen as risky and costly. 

The thing is, though, something needs to change with our usual construction methods, as the cement industry is responsible for 8% of the whole planet’s carbon dioxide emissions. 

That’s a whole lot of emissions for something that’s so grey and boring.

So, isn’t it time we went back to our roots when it came to constructing our homes and offices? 

Here are just some ways in which you could rewild your office. 

Living walls 

Living walls, or walls made of plants, are the latest interior/exterior trends from the world of sustainable construction. Not only are they pretty to look at, but they also:

• Help improve indoor air quality
• Improve employee concentration
• Lower energy costs
• Protect against rain and heat damage
• Reduce noise pollution

Living walls also provide habitats for wildlife, incorporating insect hotels, bat boxes or bird houses into their design, allowing endangered species to thrive in more urban environments. 

Moss walls 

These are perfect for adding that touch of greenery to your corporate space indoors. They can be installed easily, they’re low maintenance, they don’t need a lot of light, and they can last for years! They also don’t need any fertiliser and can be preserved using non-toxic methods. Plus, no extra energy or water consumption is needed. 

Hempcrete 

This is an eco-friendly alternative to concrete, where hemp is used for insulation within buildings, through internal plasters, etc. The thermal insulation made from hemp creates energy-efficient homes while also giving back to the environment by sequestering carbon dioxide.

Living roofs 

Turf roofs, or living roofs, are becoming key additions to new developments to help combat the climate and biodiversity crisis we currently face. They help to adapt cities for more extreme climate conditions, such as resilience to the impacts of climate change through reducing stormwater runoff velocity and volumes and keeping spaces cool in the summer. 

Studies theorise that cities with 50% green roof coverage could lead to an average 0.1-0.8°C reduction in surface temperatures.

Seaweed 

Used for hundreds of years in areas with access to lots and lots of seaweed, the modern-day benefits of using seagrass in our homes have only really been experimented with:

• On the island of Laeso, it’s been used for roofs. 
• In Mexico, bricks are being made that are 40% seaweed. 
• In Canada, the company Seabrick is working on buoyant interlocking blocks for floating buildings.

Seaweed is fire-retardant, anti-bacterial, a good insulator, and rot-proof; it’s the material of the future. 

Read more: Sea Kelp: Is it the next super-plastic?

Big brands that are rewilding their offices

We’re not the only ones who think it’s time our office blocks got a green revamp. Here are some examples of just how some brands are rewilding their urban offices and making them havens for biodiversity and reducing climate change. 

Nvidia

Location: California

Built with energy efficiency at its core, Nvidia’s HQ incorporates green walls and biophilic design so that native plants freshen the air and absorb sound. They have 390KW of solar panels, and their reliance on natural light reduces their electric light usage by 40%. They’ve installed underfloor air distribution, air and waterside economisers, as well as planting drought-tolerant trees. 

Google 

Location: California 

Google’s Bay View campus is the largest building (1.1 million square feet) to achieve LEEDv4 Platinum certification. They’re a net water-positive campus, with the largest geothermal installation and an on-site recycling and stormwater management system. They, too, incorporate biophilic design, with greenery and natural daylight, and their cafe only uses ingredients that can be sourced within a 150-mile radius. They also ensure every desk has a view of the outdoors to help their teams stay connected to nature. 

And the best edition to any campus? Goats! Google lets a herd of goats roam, graze, and subsequently fertilise the grounds of their campus - which is way more carbon-friendly than using a traditional lawn mower. 

Apple 

Location: California 

Apple’s Apple Park is the largest naturally ventilated building in the world. It runs on 100% renewable energy, it doesn’t require AC for nine months of the year, and the site is home to 9,000 drought-tolerant trees. The fruit and veg that’s grown on these trees? Served in the employee cafe. The campus also recycles over 30 million gallons of water that is used for everyday irrigation and toilet flushing, and the landscaping was designed specifically to restore the area’s native plant life. 

Prior to its opening, CEO Tim Cook stated during New York Climate Week that it could be “the greenest building in the world”. 

“Green buildings are good for the environment and good for people but also make a lot of business and economic sense. This is why major corporations worldwide have adopted green building certification for their headquarters and beyond. By supporting certified buildings, companies can save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and create healthier places for people.”

Melissa Baker, Senior Vice President at the U.S. Green Building Council

Rewilding your brand 

It might be a bit farfetched to expect eco-office blocks to become the norm anytime soon. 

However, there are ways your brand can begin rewilding yourselves - starting with your promotional merchandise. 

If you’re looking for that ultimate brand growth strategy, you can’t do any better than a promotional plant for making your brand shine.

And what’s even better is that everyone loves a plant. From Gen X to Gen Z, by incorporating plants into your next marketing campaign, you’re sure to set down roots with fantastic new and old clients alike.

If you’re ready to add a bit of horticultural excitement to your next marketing campaign, channel your inner guerilla gardener and check out our full range of brandable plants.

Read more: 4 Ways to Grow Your Brand With Plants

External benefits of rewilding your brand 

1. Grows a positive brand image 

Plants share a positive message about your brand: that you care. They show that your brand is eco-aware and that you value the importance of the growth and conservation of our natural habitats. Brands that prioritise sustainable initiatives are often perceived as responsible, ethical and caring. 

1. Great social media potential  

Plant sales have risen by 50% over the last 3 years, and that’s mainly due to their rise in popularity on social media. With the love of all things green sprouting up online, your brand could be shared far and wide, all thanks to your humble desk plant.

Kew Gardens found that the number of visitors under the age of 26 has increased by an astonishing 146% in the last 5 years, with 13% saying their visit was encouraged by social media. 

1. Appeals to a younger audience 

Plants are a firm favourite with Gen Z, and you’ll appeal to this new generation of talent if you opt to make plants part of your onboarding merch pack. 

Read more: Why are plants so popular with Gen Z?

1. Boosts competitiveness

Making your green initiatives known through plantable merch keeps you ahead of the curve when it comes to your competitors. You’ll be seen as a sustainability leader in your industry, opening up your network for collaborations and new business opportunities.  

Internal benefits of rewilding your brand 

1. Creates a healthier workplace environment

A study found that out of 2,000 adults, 40% agreed that the perfect work environment included plants. Why not make one of those plants yours? 

Having plants in the office is also a great way to reduce noise pollution. For example, plants in living walls absorb sound waves, creating quieter working environments. They reduce echoes and dampen noise. 

Plants with broad leaves are seen to improve mental health as seeing their bright, amazing greenery every day makes us feel calmer and relaxed. 

1. Your team are more productive 

It’s been proven that productivity can grow by at least 15% if there are plants scattered around the office, and having approximately 1 houseplant per metre has been shown to improve memory retention - perfect for reciting presentations from scratch. 

A study in Norway in the 1990s also found that having plants in the office reduced the symptoms of ill health (such as fatigue, dry skin, and concentration problems) by a whopping 25%. 

Is there anything plants can’t do? 

1. Employee retention 

If your staff feel happier in their working environment, they’re more likely to stay.  90% of employees leave a company based on reasons other than money, so make their working environment the best it can be with plants. 

1. Financial incentives 

If you take it a step further than just opting for plantable merch, but rather adopt sustainability as your key ethos, there are so many financial incentives and grants to help support sustainable businesses. These grants can help offset the costs of implementing further green initiatives. 

1. Lower costs 

By going green, you can also save a lot of costs. From living walls that reduce your heating bill in the winter and your AC in the summer to investing in energy-efficient appliances and reusable water initiatives. There are so many ways you can lower your financial outgoings by adopting a more sustainable approach to business. 

Read more: Welcome to the jungle: 12 benefits of promotional plants 

Are you ready to rewild your marketing strategy? 

Every year, we’re losing more and more of our access to wild spaces. And these wild spaces are, unfortunately, becoming smaller and smaller. 

That’s why guerilla gardeners are so important. That’s why brands adopting the ethos behind guerilla gardening is so important. 

That’s why plants are integral to your marketing strategy. 

It’s up to brands that care to take action. From caring about the environment, biodiversity, climate change and our urban communities, it’s time we turned green from within our office blocks. Our skyscrapers. Our highrises. 

Because if big brands don’t get to the root of the issues facing our planet, who will? 

In true guerilla gardening fashion: 

“Ask for forgiveness rather than permission.”

So, grab your trowel, find your gloves, and let’s start throwing some branded seedballs this lunch break, yeah? 

If you’re inspired to start guerilla gardening with your brand, check out our collection of branded promotional plants to get you started today.