RHS funds Yorkshire community groups
10 May 2013
In Yorkshire 32 community groups are celebrating winning thousands of pounds from the RHS as part of a new pilot programme designed to help grassroots gardening in the region. Another £30,000 will be available again next year.
More than 80 groups applied for grants from the charity to help fund local projects, and the RHS Yorkshire in Bloom team have awarded three main projects up to £8,000 each; a further 29 groups will receive funds of £300.
Brendan Mowforth, RHS Yorkshire in Bloom Chair, said: 'We’re delighted that so many groups across Yorkshire will benefit from these funds. The smaller grants will help with the creation of new plant schemes so expect to see public spaces in towns such as Scarborough blooming with glorious colour by summer.'
The first flagship fund is going to Keyhouse Keighley (£5,350), a charity supporting 5,000 homeless people, to build a kitchen garden at the charity’s drop-in centre which is located in a deprived area with no access to growing space.
The second significant share of funding will develop a partnership between Harris Road Allotment Society and Marcliffe School, Sheffield (£8,060) to reap the health benefits of ‘grow your own’. Horton Community Farm (Bradford) will receive £8,258 to help transform a derelict site into a community garden for local residents.
Sheffield-raised RHS Director General, Sue Biggs, said; 'The overwhelming response we had from community groups applying for funds shows there’s a real hunger for improving public spaces in Yorkshire, which is absolutely fantastic. One of the key aims of the RHS is to support community gardening because of the significant difference it can make to people’s lives and livelihoods.'