10-07-2026
Meet the nature makers
Case study
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
In conversation with
Green Engagement Lead at Mafwa Theatre
Lincoln Green in Leeds is home to vibrant and diverse communities of Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people from around the world. But having a home and feeling at home are two completely different things.
Mafwa Theatre is a community theatre company that celebrates diversity, bringing Lincoln Green’s refugee, asylum-seeking and settled communities together.
In recent years their artistic roots have sprouted new, greener shoots, with the creation of a community ‘garden of sanctuary’ at the heart of what is one of the city’s most nature-deprived areas.
Roxby Community Garden’s flourishing programme of gardening and nature activities not only promotes wellbeing and creativity, it also cultivates a much-needed sense of belonging in this cultural melting pot of inner-city Leeds.
“Gardening really does have the power to unite communities” says Danmore Sithole, Green Engagement Lead at Mafwa.
He talks to us about how Mafwa Theatre itself is thriving through diversity, using nature and gardening as another way to break down language, cultural and social barriers and create common ground – through everything from kids’ mud kitchens to photo storytelling and cultural dish exchanges.
At Mafwa’s weekly gardening club, people come together to grow food and connect - with nature and each other. Friendships between refugees, asylum seeker and settled residents blossom beyond the garden too.
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Danmore Sithole - Green Engagement Lead, Mafwa Theatre
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Settled resident and Lincoln Greener
Mafwa Theatre’s move from the arts to nature may seem wild. But Danmore explains that the growth was organic.
“Mafwa started life as a women’s community drama group in 2018. The idea of gardening grew during the pandemic as people in Lincoln Green became increasingly isolated, with a lack of green spaces to safely connect with each other.”
The team soon realised that, like other art forms, gardening can be a canvas for personal expression. A way for people to share hopes, experiences, shifting cultural perspectives and be seen for who they are.
Post-pandemic, the green wave of Lincoln Green grew from balcony plant swaps to a more permanent space for people and nature in the neighbourhood.
“We saw a challenge, a derelict playground and an opportunity” Danmore continues. “We approached Leeds City Council and worked in partnership with local residents to transform it into Roxby Community Garden – a safe open green space for gardening, creative workshops, picnics, play and celebrating cultural diversity together.”
The result is a place where art and nature thrive side by side. Recently for example, Mafwa’s art club worked with an organisation called Space Two to create nature-based artwork. “We’re going to install these and animate the garden to make it even more attractive” Danmore says.
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Danmore Sithole - Green Engagement Lead, Mafwa Theatre
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Arabic speaker and Lincoln Greener
Mafwa Theatre now has a growing collection of green spaces around Lincoln Green. See how each space is helping to nurture the benefits of nature closer to home.
Lincoln Green residents told Mafwa they wanted space to play, meet, gather, grow, escape and explore. So the garden has different zones for each of these, including a woodland edge zone packed with scented bulbs and blossoming trees.
Discover the garden
The weekly gardening session teaches how to grow vegetables and herbs from seed to plate. The budding green fingered can learn how to care for these edibles and understand how different cultures use different ingredients.
This is where people can take the gardening skills they’ve learned onwards and upwards. Using a raised bed in one of seven micro allotments, they can grow their own food to share or take home.
Branching out even further, the Lincoln Greeners are now managing the council gardening beds in the local shopping area. Cheering up the local area - and each other - one flowerbed at a time.
So how do you create a community-led green space where everyone can feel at home?
Danmore shares how Mafwa has helped people grow skills and confidence, made gardening sessions accessible, let positive experiences do the talking and worked with local partners to bring nature closer for all.
Cultivate a neighbourly environment which helps break down language and cultural barriers, building confidence, skills, friendship and opportunities.
“Our Lincoln Greeners gardening sessions are so welcoming, giving people the chance to work side by side, socialise during tea breaks or spend some quiet time alone” Danmore says. “They feel comfortable growing skills that are key in their day-to-day life, such as confidence, assertiveness and the spoken English language.”
“Some residents become volunteers, leading activity sessions of their own and representing Mafwa by manning the Mafwa Theatre stall at the volunteer centre. Others have been welcomed onto the Mafwa Board of Trustees.”
As well as physical support, like making it easier for residents to access the garden with wide entrances and ramps, think about what other practical help is needed. In Lincoln Green it’s with things like holiday childcare, food insecurity and support workers.
“Garden Gremlins is our stay and play group, with experienced people who work with children and their parents to ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe. We also provide refreshments which can supplement food available at home.”
“I’ve seen connections happen within Lincoln Greeners that become social capital that people can then use beyond the gardening session.” He explains, “People in the settled community advocate for refugees and asylum seeker members, on issues like putting a point across to a landlord.”
Word of mouth is a powerful voice when it comes to reaching people who may be isolated or unsure and telling them about something positive, inclusive and inspiring.
There’s first-hand word of mouth, “When people come to our sessions, they go on to tell other people what they experience. The lived experience of being in one of our activities seems to be the key marketing tool, particularly for those who are isolated.”
There’s also word of mouth through advertising, “We use social media, drop flyers in different places and meet the wider community at festivals.”
And there’s word of mouth through shared stories, “We took photos around Lincoln Green and its community which we put around the garden for Refugee Week to draw more people into the garden.”
From local councillors to NHS social workers to the Refugee World Cup organisers. Networking with other partner organisations can help signpost residents to the right support, share and improve processes and open up a whole new world right on the doorstep.
“Last year we had some social workers seconded to us by the NHS, and people could approach them directly for more information or therapeutic services.”
“We also work with schools around us, it’s a good opportunity for me to go there and talk about what we do and get the attention of parents who would not ordinarily come to our sessions.”
Engaging diverse communities is about doing everything with meaning. You can’t just tell people to feel at home, you have to build trust by showing how it’s rooted in positivity.
“My advice is to walk the talk. What you say is what you do. Being a refugee myself, I know that people are going through a lot. Building trust is key and also valuing their contribution.”
He continues, “It’s key to promote a sense of belonging, because we believe that everyone has got something to offer.”
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Danmore Sithole - Green Engagement Lead, Mafwa Theatre
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Asylum seeker and Lincoln Greener
Safe, neutral green spaces like Roxby Community Garden are an opportunity to create a positive legacy for Lincoln Green. Bringing clarity to false narratives around refugees and asylum seekers.
Danmore explains why Mafwa’s annual Refugee Week festival is a great example of this in action.
“We documented Lincoln Green and its people through a photography project that was displayed during the festival. By showing it’s a valued place with a story to tell, we’re bringing a sense of pride into the place.”
“As well as inviting people to have a say, we’re highlighting the work we still need to do and advocating for more green spaces for our children.”
©Molly McGee
Danmore explains how Mafwa Theatre is branching out even further across Lincoln Green, inviting residents to have their say in what’s next through their ‘People’s Plan for Nature’, created during the Nature Neighbourhoods project. The Plan is rooted in six key areas:
The micro allotment scheme helps nature put down roots and puts food on people’s tables. All seven raised beds are now adopted by local families and community groups, including the Kikwetu Kenyan Community Group, Leeds Refugee Forum and Burmantofts Community Friends.
Mafwa is working in partnership with residents and other organisations to advocate for better access to green space across Leeds.
The newly formed ‘Friends of Roxby Community Garden’ is already a powerful voice in the fight to preserve and protect local green spaces. With an open invitation to anyone who wants to have a say on things that matter, like how to reduce the impact of floods, heatwaves and droughts.
Mafwa now has a Memorandum of Understanding with Leeds City Council, giving other local neighbourhood groups a green working model they can recreate and a way of partnership working they can follow.
A piano donated by Leeds International Piano Competition is opening up new worlds of play, discovery and learning for kids in Roxby Community Garden.
The Lincoln Green Shopping Centre bed is blooming brilliant under Mafwa’s management, brightening the scenery with beautiful flowers. All eyes will be on Grantham Towers and Boston towers when they take over these beds later in the year.
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Danmore Sithole - Green Engagement Lead, Mafwa Theatre
©National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor
Passerby, Lincoln Green square bed