Our Story
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Wild Dandelion Community Interest Company began as the seed of initiative arising from Cherry Orchards Camphill Community, a long-established residential intentional therapeutic community in North Bristol, in the southwest of England. Cherry Orchards sold their site in November 2020 and the seed began to germinate.
 
In the following years, amidst the chaos and turmoil of the Covid-19 global pandemic, a small group of women stepped forwards to take the spirit that had lived in Cherry Orchards, into the future.

They brought with them a vision of creating a new home for the initiative that had lived in the charity; a spirit of community, of service to others, the care of the land and for the fulfilment of the healing potential in personal development, spiritual work and collective responsibility.
 
And so, in the spring of 2024, Wild Dandelion emerged. Rooted in the spirit, impulse and values of Cherry Orchards, we are embarking on a journey with dedication and vision, committed to continuing our legacy of serving and enriching the lives of those around us.

Our Name
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You could say that our name found us.  In ‘listening in’ for the name of our newly established company, we spent time artistically exploring inspirations, seeds and roots that we carried with us from Cherry Orchards.

We discovered the words and symbols of plants and nature, movement, hope and togetherness, all rooted in the cycles and circles of development and transformation.

​​The dandelion is usually considered a weed - undesirable, separated and often removed to make way for 

other plants deemed “better” or more beautiful. This symbolises the experiences of the barriers faced by the groups of people we aim to support.
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​​So instead we champion the Dandelion; its wildness, its determination to persevere ​through the many obstacles that it faces, its natural instincts to rise above the asphalt, to bring colour, transformation and a multitude of positive aspects of the human spirit, displayed in one single and singular plant. The dandelion thus feels like a true representation of our efforts. ​

Some fun facts about dandelions...

​❋ The dandelion can grow just about anywhere 

❋ It is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the Sun, Moon and Stars. The yellow flower resembles the sun, the puff ball resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars 

❋ The yellow of the dandelion is associated with the sun and a colour that often represents optimism, hope and joy 

❋ Often considered a weed, every part of the dandelion is useful: root, leaves, milk and flower are used for food, they are full of nutrients and are better for you than most vegetables in your garden. They are also used in medicines and dyes.

❋ The Dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep 
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❋ Dandelions are hardy and extensive. They have one of the longest flowering ​seasons of any plant, crossing annual seasons

❋ Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind, travelling like tiny parachutes for great distances. Seeds are often carried as many as 5 miles away from their original source

❋ Animals such as birds, insects and butterflies consume nectar or seed of dandelion and the roots are helpful aerators for the soil

❋ Dandelions have sunk their roots deep into history. They were well known to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years

❋ Dandelions are used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders
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❋ Dandelions are, quite possibly the most successful plants that exist, masters of survival worldwide