Marsh Charitable Trust – Marsh Volunteer Awards for Grow Wild Projects

Marsh Volunteer Awards for Grow Wild Projects – Community Programme

Grow Wild is the national outreach programme of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, working in partnership with communities across the UK. Grow Wild contributes to Kew’s mission to understand and protect plants and fungi for the wellbeing of people and the future of all life on Earth. By focusing on UK native plants and fungi, Grow Wild helps to raise awareness of their decline, habitat loss and importance to biodiversity, whilst fostering community connections and wellbeing.

Community Programme

The Grow Wild Community Programme provides project grants and support to help groups and organisations to transform urban spaces through growing, for the benefit of people and wildlife.

These awards recognise three outstanding individuals who have volunteered with a project supported by Grow Wild’s Community Programme, the unsung heroes who go above and beyond to make a difference.

Winners have been nominated by their fellow group members.

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George Radcliffe, Ugonna Ezeyi, and Rachel Taylor 2025

George Radcliffe, SLATE Charity Group, Leeds

George has shown remarkable commitment to a verge area in central Leeds, long before SLATE received the Kew Grow Wild grant to plant an edible hedge. Despite its urban setting, the space has become a peaceful haven, thanks to George’s care and dedication. As Head Gardener, he has taken responsibility for watering during heatwaves, managing bindweed and monitoring wildlife. His consistent attention and enthusiasm have made him a guardian of the garden, inspiring the team to expand green spaces with moveable tree planters. George also volunteers at another garden project and brings valuable experience and insight to both. Notably, his involvement has supported his wellbeing during a challenging home move and while managing learning disabilities and mental ill health. On SLATE days, he checks the garden first, responding quickly to any issues. His presence has uplifted the team and brought lasting benefits to the space.

Ugonna Ezeyi, Grangewood Park Edible Garden, London

Ugonna has been a cornerstone of the edible garden’s re-birth, offering her time, skills, and heart from the very first conversation. She committed immediately to volunteering and brought creativity and vision to the project, designing and leading a beautiful ‘slow fashion’ workshop. Children crafted jewellery from natural materials like elderberry branches and leaves, transforming the garden into a space of discovery, sustainability, and joy. From the earliest planning stages, Ugonna helped shape the project’s direction, consistently contributing fresh ideas and energy to every workshop. Beyond her sessions, she sourced willow for natural raised beds, using foraged materials that reflected the garden’s ethos. Ugonna is a source of optimism and encouragement, helping the team and community recognise and celebrate their collective achievements. In a small team, her ability to nurture both people and place proved invaluable, setting the tone for a welcoming, community-focused space.

Rachel Taylor, Volunteer Grower at Stepney City Farm, London

Rachel has been a committed volunteer grower at the farm for over seven years, supporting three different Head Growers across two days each week. Her attention to detail has greatly improved harvest quality, and her willingness to help with any task makes her a vital part of the team. After a serious hit and run incident earlier this year, Rachel returned as soon as she was able, and her absence made clear how much the farm relies on her. She shares her knowledge generously with staff and members of the Greencare group, always in a gentle and inclusive way that encourages learning. Rachel also supports staff in quiet but meaningful ways, helping with clean up and anticipating needs without being asked. Her empathy shines through in her interactions with Greencare participants, offering support while respecting boundaries. Rachel nurtures both the land and the people around her.

Previous Winners

Clare Hutchinson, Phil Rowbotham and Tracey McKeating

Clare Hutchinson

Clare has been a driving force behind the success of the YMCA Belfast’s Community Garden since its creation. As one of the founding volunteers, she played a key role in designing the garden layout and carefully selecting plants and flowers, with a particular focus on native species to promote local biodiversity. Her commitment to learning about sustainable gardening has been invaluable, helping shape the garden into a thriving, eco-friendly space.

Clare’s creativity shines through in her handmade signage, which adds warmth and character to the space. She has gone above and beyond by leading open gardening sessions, coordinating the volunteer WhatsApp group, and delegating tasks, all while taking overall responsibility for maintaining the garden. By fostering a collaborative environment, Clare has empowered other volunteers to take ownership of the garden, making the project a true community effort under her thoughtful and capable management.

Thanks to Clare’s tireless dedication, what was once a disused, overgrown area has been transformed into a welcoming place where local residents, young people, and community groups can come together to connect, learn new skills, and enjoy nature.

Phil Rowbotham

Phil is a lead volunteer and treasurer of the Love Heaton Norris Group, which is a local unfunded voluntary group in Stockport, a town in Cheshire. Together, the group is transforming a large town centre brownfield site into a wildlife haven and community space.

Phil has shown incredible commitment to the group and has been instrumental in the success of their Community Wilding Garden. When the group were trying to obtain permission from the council to utilise and enhance the site, it was Phil who really pushed this forward and convinced them.

He is never one to shy away from getting stuck in and once permission was granted he obtained the tools needed and set about clearing the site. Under his guidance the group built bench seats from pallets and hired a digger to create a seasonal ‘scrape’ for bog plants. When nineteen tonnes of topsoil was delivered, it was Phil who organised a working party to wheel-barrow it to the main site.

Phil has put in a huge amount of effort to fund applications on behalf of the group, which has led to success.  He also works hard in the wider community, helping Love Heaton to Norris to form supportive relationships with other community groups in the area.

Tracey McKeating

Tracey volunteers for Headin2Horticulture, a newly formed community group in Belfast, developing an urban garden situated between a GP practice and mental health surgery.

Tracey has been involved with the project since its inception and is at the heart of the gardening group. She is always the first person to arrive and get the day started, opening up the store and assessing what needs to be done, watering, weeding, feeding the plants and tidying the space regardless of the weather.

Tracey’s interest and knowledge in horticulture has really developed, especially in relation to growing healthy fruit and vegetables to benefit her community. She generously shares this knowledge with other volunteers and is now helping in the centre’s soup kitchen, using the produce that she harvests from the garden.

Tracey can always be found talking to people who are going in and out of the GP and mental health unit as they pass through the garden, showing enthusiasm and brightening up everyone’s day with her positive can-do attitude and a smile.  

Tracey goes out of her way to provide support and encouragement to individuals who are struggling with their mental health, drawing on her own experiences of the benefits of gardening.

Tracey’s journey of self discovery through gardening has made such a positive impact on the local community, in her own words, “if I can do this anyone can”.