Poppy Okotcha

Poppy Okotcha is a passionate horticulturalist, regenerative grower, and educator, known for her work under her platform, Poppy Okotcha, established in 2020. Deeply motivated by her lived experiences as a Black woman navigating predominantly white spaces in both fashion and environmentalism, Poppy is a compelling voice on racial equality. Her work today is rooted in her desire to reconnect people—especially those from marginalised communities—to the natural world. As a public speaker, she focuses on topics including food sovereignty, slow living, and racial equity in green spaces. With over 126,000 Instagram followers, she uses her platform to challenge the exclusionary nature of environmental spaces and advocate for inclusivity in horticulture.

Poppy began her professional journey in 2014 as an international fashion model with Select Model Management, walking for major fashion houses like Vivienne Westwood, Pandora, and Chloé. However, the high-paced, image-driven world of modelling soon left her yearning for a more grounded existence. In 2016, she left the fashion industry behind and took up a trainee florist role with Rebel Rebel, before joining Hackney Herbal as a trainee in 2020. Poppy formalised her growing expertise by earning a Level 2 qualification in Plant Growth, Propagation and Development from the Royal Horticultural Society in 2019. These formative years were crucial in shaping her current ethos of sustainability, community, and ecological justice.

One of Poppy’s most formative learning experiences was working alongside Martin Crawford, the renowned founder of England’s oldest food forest. This mentorship deepened her understanding of permaculture and community growing. Poppy has since shared her knowledge on high-profile platforms such as BBC2’s Gardeners’ World, the Royal Horticultural Society Podcast, and A Life More Wild. In 2025, she published A Wilder Way: How Gardens Grow Us, a book championing nature’s role in personal and collective healing. Her work has earned her widespread recognition as a thought leader in the slow living and regenerative growing movements.

Poppy’s speaking engagements delve into critical conversations around access to land, traditional knowledge, and racial justice in ecological systems. By connecting her horticultural expertise with themes of identity and belonging, she inspires audiences to reimagine the role of nature in everyday life. Her ability to speak authentically, informed by both lived experience and professional knowledge, makes her an impactful and sought-after racial equality speaker—especially for organisations aiming to challenge systemic exclusion and create more inclusive, regenerative futures.