Grow Wild with RBG Kew
17 January, 2025Last year was an exciting time for the MCT’s partnership with Royal Botanic Kew Gardens. The MCT have run volunteer, young volunteer, and professional Awards with Kew for many years. We have now expanded our partnership to recognise those taking part in Kew’s Grow Wild Programme!
Grow Wild is the national outreach programme run by Kew, which aims to encourage communities across the UK to care for and rejuvenate their local area. The programme provides communities with the resources and skills to transform spaces and change lives, all while encouraging education around species of flora that are native to the UK.
Since the programme began around 10 years ago, over 300 projects have been supported by Kew. The Grow Wild programme provide grants in two categories: ‘Youth Projects and ‘Community Programme’.
The Grow Wild Youth Projects provides grants and support to young people across the UK to deliver inspiring projects, championing UK native plants and fungi.
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.
The inaugural winners of the Marsh Volunteer Awards for Grow Wild Projects are:
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.
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.
Edward Douglas – Edward has shown incredible dedication to his Youth Planters for Nature project, leading his Youth Action Committee with positivity and determination.
Clare Hutchinson – Clare has been a driving force behind the success of the YMCA Belfast’s Community Garden since its creation, and is one of the founding volunteers.
Phil Rowbotham – Phil is a lead volunteer and treasurer of the Love Heaton Norris Group, working to transform a large town centre brownfield site into a wildlife haven and community space.
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.
The MCT is always keen to develop our Awards Schemes and build lasting relationships with our Award Partners.