Winter appeal launched to spread the joy of gardening this Christmas
At this time of year when the weather is turning colder in refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, our gardening activities are more important than ever to bring people together and give them hope for their futures.
That’s why, this Christmas, we have launched a special appeal, where we are asking our supporters to give a special and lasting present – the gift of gardens and gardening.
Find out more about why we’ve launched the appeal and how you can help.
Take part in our festive competition
We are also inviting our supporters to enter our competition in collaboration with Grace Alexander Flowers. All you need to do is share with us your own special seasonal plant or floral tradition that brings you joy at this time of year. All entrants will be in with a chance of winning a signed copy of Grace Alexander’s book, ‘Grow and Gather’ and some extra goodies.
Aveen Ibrahem is Operations Manager at Lemon Tree Trust, overseeing our community gardening and cooking programmes across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Her work supports activities in Azadî Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp, as well as outreach and coordination across the nine camps where Lemon Tree Trust currently operates. Having lived in Domiz 1 … Continued
Inside the polytunnels at the Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan refugee camp, Garden Manager Othman Qewas carefully selects fruit trees and flowering plants grown from seed. Joined by Hamid Abdullah, Lemon Tree Trust’s Horticulture and Landscape Consultant, the plants are loaded into the car before setting off to visit families across the camp. As part of our ongoing children’s outreach programme in Gawilan camp, … Continued
Bringing together residents to celebrate the home gardens they have grown, tended and transformed over the past year, Lemon Tree Trust’s 2026 Annual Garden Competitions have taken place across nine refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This year’s competitions introduced a greater emphasis on welcoming new participants alongside … Continued