Organisations and community groups across the UK are being invited to apply for funding of £1-4,000 from “Grow Wild” to create inspiring spaces, supported by the Big Lottery Fund and led by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Grow Wild motivates communities, friends, neighbours and individuals to come together to transform local spaces by sowing, growing and enjoying UK native wild flowers and over the next year, Grow Wild has more than two hundred thousand pounds to award to not-for-profit groups who put forward creative ideas that revamp communal spaces.
Grow Wild is looking for projects that use native wild flowers and plants innovatively to bring colour and wildlife to their local area. They should offer volunteering opportunities to young people aged 12-25 and also to over 25s. Projects should also think creatively about sharing stories, photos and activities from their spaces.
Over 2014-15, Grow Wild has built a network of over 150 projects including the re-imagining of a train station entrance, an interactive tour of planted spaces, and a sensory garden for people with disabilities, as well as projects involving streetscapes, woodlands, housing estates and murals.
Applications for 2016 funding must be received by December 1. A panel of experts will then help decide who will receive funding. Successful groups will be notified in February 2016 ready to start their project in March and finish by October 2015.
Philip Turvil, Programme Manager at Grow Wild, said: “We want to hear from voluntary, community and youth groups who would like Grow Wild to help them realise a vision of transforming their local area as part of a network of people who are bringing colour and wildlife to their community’s shared spaces.”
Tim Owen, Lead Partnership Manager at Grow Wild: “A community project can be anything that ignites the interest of the community with activities that show UK native wild flowers and plants at their best. It’s not just about what you sow, but how you sow. We want groups to think creatively with events, art, music and more.”
Tim added: “The application form is simple and there’s lots of support available from the Grow Wild team. Our funded projects also receive expert guidance and a web profile to share their achievements and link with similar groups.”
Peter Ainsworth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Grow Wild is all about connecting people with nature, with the places where they live and bringing different generations and communities together in a creative and lasting way.
Now Grow Wild has reached a really exciting stage, building on its funded networks with the chance for local groups across the UK to apply for funding that could transform their local spaces. I can’t wait to see these great ideas bloom into exciting projects that we can all be proud of.”
For more information on joining the Grow Wild community project network , visit www.growwilduk.com/get-funding by 1 December 2015 and arrange a discussion with the team.
Grow Wild is also creating flagship sites in each UK country, funding 50 youth-led projects and sharing thousands of free seed kits and packets of seeds.
Photo and source: Grow Wild.