Funding available for planting projects

Blueprint22, a youth organisation for 16 to 25-year-olds from Brighton to Bognor Regis, has made an interactive sensory garden at Goring Hall Hospital.

The garden was designed to make the area around the hospital more uplifting and was made for the benefit of those in the chemotherapy unit, who can see it from the windows.

Each part of the garden has a different theme and the achievements of the volunteers were celebrated at an open day.

The Grow Wild project was one of a number supported by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the Big Lottery Fund as part of a mission to transform local spaces into green areas which communities can enjoy.

Peter Ainsworth, chairman 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.”

Funding of between £1,000 and £4,000 is available for people to bring colour and wildlife into their neighbourhoods by sowing, growing and enjoying native wild flowers.

Over the next year, Grow Wild has more than £200,000 to award to not-for-profit groups who put forward creative ideas to revamp communal spaces.

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.”

During the last year, Grow Wild has built a network of more than 150 projects, including a railway station entrance and an interactive tour of planted spaces.

Applications for 2016 funding must be received by December 1, 2015. A panel of experts will then help make the decisions and successful groups will be notified in February next year, ready for projects to start in March and finish by October.

Tim Owen, lead partnership manager, said: “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.

“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.”

Visit growwilduk.com/get-funding for more information and to arrange a discussion with the team.

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