Southwark’s Carole Wright joins Big Lunch community walk

Laura Graham from Northampton and Carole Wright from Southwark are the England team; two of the eight walkers that make up the four teams stepping out across the UK aiming to shine a light on people who bring their community closer together.

Throughout their 17 day journey, walkers will visit communities meeting and chatting with people to celebrate the positive impact of collaborative projects and neighbourhood activities, and inviting everyone to share food, make friends and have fun together through The Big Lunch on 1 and 2 June.

Laura Graham said: "Now, more than ever, we need to create connected communities in order to reduce loneliness and social isolation. Helping to do that through The Big Lunch community walk is a real honour."

Fellow walker Carole Wright said: "I love walking, I always have. I love just following my feet. I 'm lucky that I have the chance to twin my passion for community with my love for walking – I just can't wait to get started."

Lambeth-born Carole is well known for her involvement in community gardening projects in North Southwark.

She said: "I think that nature and community go hand in hand.

"Community gardening and getting people in to nature has been a part of my life for the past 14 years.

"Even if they just bring people together for a chat".

She added: "I got into beekeeping through my community gardening, and haven't looked back since.

"I love 'The Girls', as I call the colonies even the male ones, because they help open conversations with the people in my area."

Carole is committed to making a difference: "We've lost our local corner shop to the big supermarkets. Houses and flats have been bought up, but sit empty – it's just not right. This is my community and I want to do something about it!"

The Big Lunch is a nationwide project initiated by The Eden Project in Cornwall.