Vauxhall - Article 6

“I believe a garden is a really important form of therapy”

Ashley has instilled values of sustainability in her girls. “The girls learn by watching,” she says. “They like to ask questions.”

With her daughters, Sophia and Jane, by her side, Ashley spends most days at her allotment nurturing plants

Zimbabwean born Ashley always dreamt of growing her own food, much like she did as a child

“We sit down together before I buy the seeds for the next allotment season, to see what we fancy growing,” laughs Ashley. “We’ve had purple peas, blue pumpkins – the varieties you wouldn’t see in supermarkets. The girls learn by just watching, but they like to ask questions. I genuinely think that’s why my kids have such a great relationship with vegetables.” Ashley’s hope is that all these valuable experiences will teach them to embrace sustainability as they grow up, and driving an all-electric vehicle is another helpful lesson in eco-friendly alternatives. For those keen to start growing their own, Ashley advises taking time and allowing for mistakes, because it’s all a part of the learning process of building a thriving allotment. Instead, she suggests, letting the garden grow at its own pace, and finding peace in knowing nature will take its course. “Gardens take patience,” she smiles. “Rather than aiming to complete it, think of it as an evolving journey where each season brings about a new lesson. If you manage to grow something successfully, then great. But be kind to yourself – some stuff will work out, some won’t – much like in life, really.”

Ashley had never driven an electric car before but was pleasantly surprised at just how intuitive and easy to run the Vauxhall Corsa-e is. “Everything is laid out in the most user-friendly way. It’s also really quiet, which is great for those early morning starts with the girls. I was initially worried about running out of battery and how easy it would be to charge the car – but I needn’t have. It’s super easy to charge and the car conveniently shows you all the charging points in the area, so I didn’t need to do much research!” This desire to live in a more sustainable way to preserve the planet extends to Ashley’s homelife, too, where she has adopted other environmentally-conscious changes, buying meat and dairy from local farmers and shopping for vintage clothing. Ashley also encourages Sophia and Jane to connect with nature and the goodness it brings by going hiking and camping regularly. She feels that’s why her girls are healthy, happy and willing to try anything when it comes to the veggies they grow from scratch.

Ashley’s two daughters – Sophia, 6, and three-year-old Jane – join her at the family allotment on most days, where they potter about in their own vegetable patch and play hide and seek among the hedgerows. “I wanted the same outdoor space for my girls here because I believe a garden is a really important form of therapy,” says Ashley. “The world can seem so overwhelming sometimes. When we go to our allotment here, it’s a chance for all of us to be still, to have unfiltered conversation without everyday distractions like the television or phones.” To transport herself, her girls and the home comforts needed to create a cosy yet functional allotment – a kettle, plenty of snacks, blankets, a camping stove and even a camper toilet – Ashley has opted to drive a fully electric Vauxhall Corsa-e. She explains: “I’m aware of the impact fuel has on the environment but like many other people, I also need a car to get to work. I drive when I’m carrying a big harvest, too, or when I am taking manure and wood chip to the allotment. I was thrilled when I saw Vauxhall had developed an All-Electric range, because my first car was a Vauxhall.”

It’s a wonderful scene to behold. Two young girls are playing hide and seek among the apple trees, darting in and out from behind the trunks as they play. On a nearby hedgerow, raspberries ripen in the autumn sun, and on the ground, young, rounded pumpkins are turning from a gentle yellow to Halloween orange. Their mum is cooking up a storm on a small outdoor stove, while the neighbours are busy feeding hens. You’d never know this was all happening in the suburban outskirts of a capital city, never mind that city being London. The woman at the heart of this bucolic scene is Ashley Nwokorie, a mother-of-two from Banstead in Surrey. She owns a family-sized allotment, where she grows year-round seasonal produce – everything from pumpkins and cabbages to apples and berries. “The need to nurture my own land was always built in me,” explains Ashley, who grew up in Zimbabwe. “[Over there], gardens are functional and beautiful – you get the patch of lawn that everyone sits on, but there are always vegetables entwined in there. I remember most conversations with my mum were shared in the garden.”

Swapping a small balcony for an allotment, Ashley Nwokorie learned that getting closer to nature builds better relationships and soothes your soul

The benefits of building your own allotment

With less moving parts and less wear on brakes, electric vehicles offer 30% less on maintenance costs. Vauxhall’s all-electric range comes complete with eight years' roadside assistance and battery warranty. The Plug & Go* Package offers three years free servicing.

Make sure your family are warm and comfortable from the moment they step into your all-electric Vauxhall vehicle by using the MyVauxhall app to pre-condition the car to your ideal temperature.

To make the switch to electric easier, Vauxhall’s Plug & Go* offer includes a free home charging unit, worth £800, and free home installation – so your vehicle can charge overnight and be ready to be driven in the morning.

Take care of the whole family with Vauxhall’s All-Electric Range

DID YOU KNOW?

Enjoy what the UK’s capital has to offer by booking an elegant room at Roseate House London in central London. A five-minute walk from Hyde Park – and with easy access to London’s famous museums – you can learn more about all aspects of London life at some of the city’s best-loved cultural hubs, such as Sir John Soane’s Museum, the British Transport Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. Book a room at nearby Roseate House, to enjoy the full experience.

Discover more about London with Secret Escapes

Find out more about Vauxhall’s All-Electric Range

Just a five minute walk from Hyde Park, Roseate House, is perfectly located for visiting London’s famous museums

The Sir John Soane's Museum encompasses the collections amassed by renowned British architect, Sir John Soane

Covering 350 acres, Hyde Park is one of London's eight Royal Parks

Driving change: how to make the switch to electric easier

Choose your next Autumn adventure with Vauxhall

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*Plug and Go Package - Fully fitted wallbox / 3 years free servicing / 6 month BP pulse subscription / 8 years battery warranty / 8 years roadside assistance *Plug and Go Package **Terms, conditions, and eligibility criteria apply. Depending on the wallbox provider, the following terms and conditions apply: (1) PodPoint Solo Wallbox, click here for full term and conditions. (2) Hive EV Charging, click here for terms and conditions. For non-standard installations, installations at a business premises, or if you are not eligible for the EVHS grant / WCS, additional fees will apply. Three years servicing based on recommended manufacturer service intervals: (3) Corsa-e or Mokka-e require a service at 1yr / 8,000 miles, 2yr / 16,000 miles, whichever arrives first. (4) Combo-e or Vivaro-e (+Life variants) require a service at 1yr / 12,500 miles, 2yr / 25,000 miles, whichever arrives first. (5) Hybrid vehicles require a service at 1yr / 20,000 miles, 2yr / 40,000 miles, 3yr / 60,000 miles, whichever arrives first. Click here for full servicing term and conditions. ##Access to public charging available via the bp pulse network. Customers are required to add credit/debit card details to their account when subscribing to the bp pulse network. £7.85 per month payable after the first 6 months for ongoing subscription. Existing bp pulse subscribers can still benefit by contacting the bp pulse help-desk to receive 6 months of credit applied to their account. ^Roadside assistance provided by Vauxhall Assistance as part of the vehicle warranty. Offer available on New Vauxhall Electric & Hybrid vehicles,*servicing excluded on Movano-e. Offer applies to private individuals, small businesses (1-49) and Vauxhall Partners. Orders from 18 October 2021 - 11 January 2022. Vauxhall Motors Limited reserves the right to change, amend or withdraw this offer at any point in time. Fuel economy and CO2 results for the Vauxhall Mokka-e 100KW (136PS). Mpg (l/100km): N/A. CO2 emissions: 0g/km. Electric range up to 201 miles (WLTP). Fuel economy and CO2 results for the Vauxhall Corsa-e 100KW (136PS). Mpg (l/100km): N/A. CO2 emissions: 0g/km. Electric range up to 209 miles (WLTP). *WLTP Figures shown are for comparison purposes and should only be compared to the fuel consumption and CO2 values of other cars tested to the same technical standard. The fuel consumption achieved, and CO2 produced, in real world conditions will depend upon a number of factors including, but not limited to: the accessories fitted (pre and post registration); variations in weather; driving styles and vehicle load. The WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure) is used to measure fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures display a range to reflect the highest value for the highest emitting version with all available options added, through to a minimum value to represent the lowest emitting version in standard specification. For more information contact your local Vauxhall Retailer.

‘I love what I do – I finally feel like me’