Marsh Volunteer Awards for Grow Wild Projects – Youth Projects
Grow Wild, Kew in partnership with communities across the UK
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.
Grow Wild provides grants and support to young people across the UK to deliver inspiring projects, championing UK native plants and fungi.
These awards recognise three exceptional young people who have each been nominated by their local supporting organisation.
Shauna Nixon, Mili Heath and Edward Douglas 2024
Shauna Nixon
As leader of the Benfieldside Youth Community Gardening Project in County Durham, Shauna has poured her heart into building a community garden that brings people together. She’s created a space for young people to connect with nature, and she leads by example, doing everything from planting to weeding. Shauna mentors younger children, making sure they feel welcome and involved. She’s even brought in local businesses to support the project, organising a corporate volunteer day, to expand what the garden can offer.
Mili Heath
Mili is part of a group of students who have created a ‘Land of Fungi’ at their school, transforming the pathway connecting their sensory garden and pond into a colourful woodland area where they are growing wildflowers and mushrooms. Mili has a talent for bringing people together, creating a warm, inclusive environment where everyone feels valued. She always notices if someone might feel left out and steps in to make sure they’re part of the team. For example, she ensured that a friend who uses a wheelchair could participate fully in a planting activity. Even though Mili doesn’t love the spotlight, she stepped up to present for her classmates at a fungi assembly, showing both courage and growth.
Edward Douglas
Edward has shown incredible dedication to his Youth Planters for Nature project, leading his Youth Action Committee with positivity and determination. He keeps his team engaged with regular updates, creating a space where everyone feels empowered to share ideas. Edward has also reached out to local councils and landowners, securing resources for the project, and persevered through setbacks. His promotion of the project through Surrey Nature magazine and social media has helped ensure that his team’s impact is widely recognised.
