My name is Matilya. I am a horticulturalist, artist, workshop facilitator and community gardener. I have spent most of my waking moments over the last 8 years tending to and communing with plants.

My work is centred around building relationships between people and plants and creating spaces for healing, care and memory work. I explore diasporic ways of communing with plants and reconnecting with the traditions of my Kenyan and Tanzanian ancestors. This takes many forms through garden and place-making, collaborative workshops and archival research.

Work

Recent Projects

‘Herbal Skincare Lab’ at at Thackray Museum of Medicine’s ‘Thackray Lates’

Co-design and build of the Rowland Road Play Patch + Sensory Garden commission 2025

Tea Ceremony Facilitation at ‘Sustenance’ with Edible Archives, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Find out more about my work

Upcoming events

Coffee Reflection + Q&A for Amaaki Film screening

Date: Tuesday 17th March
Time: Following the 6pm screening (film is approx 2 hours)
Location: Hyde Park Picture House
A facilitated session after the screening of the beautiful Ethiopian film Amaaki exploring our relationships with the coffee plant, rituals around it and reflections from the film. I will be joined by the film’s director Celia Boussebaa.

Find out more
Spring Equinox Special - Herb Study Club

Date: Sunday 22nd March 2026
Time:12.30-3.30
Address: Meanwood Institute, 94 Green Rd, Meanwood, Leeds, LS6 4LD
Come and join us for a Herb Study Club social to mark Spring Equinox. Expect some herbal mocktails, snacks and crafty plant related activities!
Click RSVP to join the mailing list and sign up.

RSVP