Comedian and keen gardener Tom Allen launched the search on Monday evening’s
The One Show (19
th May, 7pm, BBC One), coinciding with the first day of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
The Award will once again shine a light on groups that have transformed an underused and unloved space into a thriving community garden, benefitting the whole community and bringing new people from all backgrounds and abilities into gardening. Allen will profile the finalists and reveal the winning community garden on
The One Show in the Autumn.
Last year’s winners, Grass Roots Oldham, were praised for taking a derelict site and turning it into a green oasis complete with orchard, forest school, animal husbandry and conservation workshops. The group addressed accessibility by facilitating transport, providing shared meals, and accommodating children. Since then they’ve gone on to launch a paddle board centre carrying out litter picks on the Rochdale Canal next to the site, and aim to double the produce collected through community harvesting events from 1 to 2 tonnes of food, including plums, apples, kale, wasabi, strawberries and plenty more.
Tom Allen said: “I love the Growing Together Award because, for me, it celebrates everything that gardening is about - the environment, wellness and more than anything, community. It shows what we can all achieve if we work together to bring life to otherwise underused spaces and the results for everyone are immense. It is a win-win all round. It is what The One Show and The RHS do best - inspire us to get off our screens and get into gardens.”
Guy Barter, RHS Chief Horticulturist, said: “With all eyes on gardens we want to hear about the community green spaces providing so much for local people. From offering a place to convene, learn, and grow we know community gardens are often the beating heart of an area and a temperature check of local need.”
Joanne Vaughan-Jones, Editor of BBC’s The One Show, added: “We love seeing how community gardening brings people together, strengthens local bonds, and transforms a shared space into a thriving, green oasis. We’re thrilled that The One Show is once again shining a light on these inspiring projects and celebrating the passion, teamwork, and dedication that make them bloom.”
Applications are now open
via the RHS website until 6pm on 13
th June. The overall winner will receive £1000 in National Garden Gift Vouchers with £100 each for the runners up. All nominations should relate to a community garden or a space that has been transformed within the last three years.
The launch of the Growing Together Award for Community Gardening 2025 follows on from the Pocket Garden Makeover Prize, which this year saw the RHS, The One Show and designer Chris Hull transform a pocket-sized front garden in Sussex. For more information
visit the RHS website.
