work
Helen digs deep to help you uncover your voice and tell your story.
Helen specialises in both short and long term communication projects within the gardening, food and farming sector. With over 16 years of experience in the media industry she also has a personal interest in mental health campaigns having previously managed media campaigns for Combat Stress and the Men’s Health Forum for Scotland.
Her strategies will help raise your profile and achieve coverage through print, broadcast and online media channels, while also supporting you to maximise the use of all social media platforms
recent work
Kilduff Farm
Helen has been supporting Lucy and Russell Calder since 2020 to help raise the profile of their family farm, which specialises in growing pumpkins, apples, bread flour, rapeseed oil and dahlias. Helen helps them to connect the public to the countryside, encouraging more people to eat pumpkins, reduce food waste and grow their own.
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This has been an exceptional working relationship which has resulted in widespread media coverage and three sell out Pumpkin Festivals over the last three years, as well as an increased online following and positive community relationships.
Excellent media relations have been established resulting in fantastic publicity in a wide range of media outlets notably; BBC Radio Scotland, STV, BBC The Nine, Landward, Delicious Magazine, Scottish Field, Homes and Antiques, The Herald, The Times, The Scotsman, Sunday Post and The Scottish Farmer. Engagement and management of social media influencers, resulting in positive content. Event management support, media training and organisation of photography. Management of Kilduff’s own social media channels. Additional ideas generated including the launch and delivery of Kilduff’s Grow Your Own Pumpkin Box, engaging with schools, the dahlia patch alongside the pumpkins, and the creation of recipes.
“Helen has brought a huge amount of energy to Kilduff Farm. Her knowledge of the media landscape is phenomenal. Her creativity, drive and enthusiasm has really allowed us to shine and she has a fantastic understanding of our industry and how we can develop it further in new directions we had never considered.”
The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens, designed by Camellia Taylor and supported by Project Giving Back
Helen is currently supporting the charity Aspens and garden designer Camellia Taylor, to raise the profile of the work the charity does to support people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities.
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The PR campaign is focussed on the The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens, which will feature at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May.
Focusing on the seven senses, Helen’s strategy will focus on illustrating the power of plants and the positive impact gardening can have on those needing support from Aspens while telling the story of Camellia’s background in psychology and transition to become a garden designer.
“To have Helen as part of our team in the lead up to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been hugely beneficial. Her understanding of the sector and her ability to unlock a news hook has been brilliant. She also helps to put you at ease and is a great sounding board.”
Ocean Plastic Pots
Helen began working with Ally Mitchell, founder and creator of Ocean Plastic Pots in the summer of 2020.
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A commercial diver, Ally came up with the idea to make plant pots from ocean plastic waste, after diving off the coast of Scotland. He was working on a job involving a cargo ship containing plastic waste, which had run aground. The plastic was destined for incineration. She was appointed to lead the communications campaign to launch Ocean Plastic Pots. A key objective was to grow the business’ profile, tell Ally’s story and build media relations from scratch.
Through a sustained communication plan, Ocean Plastic Pots became established in the gardening world within a year, winning numerous awards including the RHS Sustainability Product of the Year at the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show.
By reaching out to key media, Helen was able to tell the story behind Ocean Plastic Pots. The story was told by several outlets including, Homes and Interiors Scotland, The Guardian, The Herald, The Sunday Post, Countryfile, Beechgrove Graden, Landward, Pebble Magazine, Wildflower Magazine, and BBC Radio Scotland. She also engaged in a social media campaign liaising with key gardening online influencers. Ocean Plastic Pots Instagram following now sits at over 11.5k followers.
“Helen was the first person we ever showed an Ocean Plastic Pot to. Her experience within the world of media relations and her breadth of knowledge was integral to launching Ocean Plastic Pots and introducing our concept to the gardening press. She delivered brilliant results with energy and passion and was able to tell our story in the build up to RHS Chelsea 2021.”
If you would like to discuss your own PR and communications needs, Helen is always happy to chat through ideas and discuss possibilities.
