Hand and Sky Project

Ruth set up Memory Gardens with other collaborators In 2002 when she discovered a piece of derelict land in Islington. She is interested in ecological patterns of renewal in people and places. Ruth holds a BA in Social Anthropology. She went on to train as a Creative Adult Education Tutor for people with Special Needs. Later she trained as a Professional Shiatsu Practitioner with further annual training in Seiki Soho from Akinobu Kishi. She is involved in Art and Music and brings these practices into the "Hand and Sky" sessions. She is also involved with Dance and Somatic practices with a long term involvement with Contact Improvisation. In 2008 she undertook an MA in Research Architecture at Goldsmith's College researching Haptic learning styles in non-verbal autistic children at "Memory Gardens". Ruth has a further Diploma from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in "Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Well-being" (2017). As a Dyslexic Practitioner she considers herself part of the community of Neuro-Diverse Practitioners and artists currently questioning issues of place and belonging through practical art and performance programs. 

Molly is a long-term Friend to Memory Gardens and she has been involved from the beginning. 

Molly is a Quaker with interest in Community, joint Stewardship of the land and care of one another. Over the years she has built important links between people on the ground especially in our first garden project which created an association between people on the autistic spectrum and people living with mental health issues in the neighboring café. She has also methodically and carefully sourced and shared relevant news items and film links connected to our interest in Neuro-Diverse processes of thought, perception and experience.

Christina worked at Manchester Metropolitan University and has been involved in a slow research residency with a Nursery School and Children's Centre. Before this she practiced as an Early Years Teacher. Her research has a focus on young children and famillies and she is interested in embodied and relational approaches to learning. She also builds research collaborations with artists working with young children because she believes passionately that they bring unique skills and process-orientated approaches. Christina joined us in 2023 as a Chairperson in the run-up to us becoming a Charity and helped in many ways.