The Baftas for garden centre grafters

runners-up get £100 each. Zoe said: “Being an ambassador means everything to me. I get to meet some amazing community groups and help them create a place where people can meet, garden and have fun.

“It’s even given me the boost to start a community space within the grounds of my workplace –

The Little Seedlings Community Garden. This is all down to the support from my employers and Cultivation Street – the confidence to say ‘we can do this’.

“I now know what a difference volunteers make to our green spaces and communities.

“Being outside, be it in your own BRANCHING OUT Zoe, right, with volunteers

space or a community space, is not only good for the body but also the mind.”

Zoe’s role also involves helping schools and other community groups.

“With my support, one of the schools decided to enter a local flower show, with the idea of making a fairy garden. The theme was to dress a wheelbarrow and I made the fairies and the store donated some alpines. I’m very pleased to say they came first.”

Her advice to other would-be community ambassadors is: “Contact your council as they will tell you about volunteer groups in your area and speak to local schools.

“And contact residential homes. Just because someone is elderly or in a home doesn’t mean they won’t want to garden any more.”

If you are involved in a school or community gardening scheme, visit cultivationstreet.com, for details.