take your seat on a buddi bench™

1 chat

10 mins

new friends

kinder society

London Hosts a new buddi bench on St. George's Day!

🌹 On this special day - St. George’s Day — a date of deep significance for my dear friend Sarah Wheeler, who died too soon from breast cancer several years ago — we are honoured to unveil a new buddi bench in Red Cross Gardens, Southwark, London, UK.

Red Cross Garden is an award-winning open space which Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST) renovated and restored to its original Victorian layout in 2005. Steeped in history it was built along with its neighbouring cottages in 1886. Designed by Octavia Hill (1838-1912) a social reformer and one of the three founders of The National Trust this park was her flagship project and at the time Red Cross Garden demonstrated the importance of improving housing for the poor and the need for meaningful occupations for poor workers.

Even more impressive is that Redcross Gardens is a “Britain in Bloom Finalist 2025” - The RHS is the UK’s gardening charity: rhs.org.uk

This bench is dedicated by me (Seth Hunter) & buddi bench in loving memory of Sarah, who worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those facing human distress. Sarah did many inspirational things and possibly the most impactful was setting-up the Dragon Cafe (I was the founding Project Manager). Sarah’s compassion, creativity, and fierce sense of justice inspired all who knew her.

Sarah often reflected on the legend of St. George, believing that the dragon didn’t need to be slain — only understood, perhaps simply tamed — so all could live together in harmony. This vision sits at the heart of the buddi bench project to integrate all of our humanity: to chat, connect, and care.

If you're in the area, take a moment to sit, reflect, and maybe share a conversation with someone new — ensuring Sarah’s legacy remains a source of inspiration and compassion for all.

Not a bench near you? Want to chat with Seth online instead? Try award-winning virtuallyseth.ai

Emma's heart-warming buddi bench™ experience...

'Last year I was walking past buddi bench with my son and I noticed a lady sat there alone. I was curious to know whether she was just sitting, or understood the buddi bench concept.

I approached her and asked if I could sit with her, she said yes. I asked if she knew anything about the buddi bench, she said she'd noticed the name and assumed it was a nice place to sit with buddies.

I agreed and then explained the concept a little.

She then started crying and explained she'd recently lost her husband and although surrounded by love from family and friends, she felt alone and wanted to just sit and think about her husband.

I told her I understood to a degree as still suffering the loss of my father and people try to help but sometimes it's just not that simple.

We hugged, we had a little cry and off I went.'

donate now to help create safer & kinder neighbourhoods