My Mini Growing Space is a small woodland and/or edible teaching garden that we help you build for your own group or community.
We want you to get started straight away! And the steps are simple.
We have put together a comprehensive step-by-step plan so that children and small communities are empowered to kickstart their own and unique Mini Growing Space: all with fun & confidence, and even if you are complete beginners! We teach you everything!
The process has 5 steps:
This idea is open to small schools, churches, libraries, communities centres or groups that have available a small unused or derelict outdoor space that they would like to transform into an attractive & educational space for their community.
We want to encourage any nature lover to take part and apply so they can grow healthy food, improve the wellbeing and mental health of young people, meet their group/organisation sustainability goals, learn the basic skills on how to use and maintain their new space successfully all year round!
Once you get your funding approved (which will mainly cover the cost of material and equipment), you will receive the following:
With your 'Growing Space' expert:
There is more!... You will also receive a tailored and comprehensive digital tool kit with:
My Mini Growing Space is a small woodland and/or edible teaching garden that we help you build for your own group or community.
We want you to get started straight away! And the steps are simple.
We have put together a comprehensive step-by-step plan so that children and small communities are empowered to kickstart their own and unique Mini Growing Space: all with fun & confidence, and even if you are complete beginners! We teach you everything!
The process has 5 steps:
This idea is open to small schools, churches, libraries, communities centres or groups that have available a small unused or derelict outdoor space that they would like to transform into an attractive & educational space for their community.
We want to encourage any nature lover to take part and apply so they can grow healthy food, improve the wellbeing and mental health of young people, meet their group/organisation sustainability goals, learn the basic skills on how to use and maintain their new space successfully all year round!
Once you get your funding approved (which will mainly cover the cost of material and equipment), you will receive the following:
With your 'Growing Space' expert:
There is more!... You will also receive a tailored and comprehensive digital tool kit with:
The project has been a fantastic opportunity for our family, next door neighbours and other street neighbours to come together, enjoy doing some gardening while making our part if the street greener and more beautiful.
We've had about 6 gardening sessions, where we set up planters, bought plants and planted them.
One of the best part of project is that other neighbours that we've never spoken to, have stopped while we're doing the gardening and commented how nice it all looks and shared gardening tips. As a result, we have new friends in the neighbourhood.
Another remarkable part of the project is that we were fearful that our planters will get destroyed or vandalised during the Notting Hill Carnival (we're only a block away from the main route) but to our surprise this did not happen.
Overall it's been a positive experience, we did some physical work, enjoyed being together and met a lot of new people.
In total, over 20 people participated including 6 children.
Action plan:
Timeline:
When will you be able to start your project? We have started looking at options, we will get plants and materials two weeks after receiving funding and activities two weeks after.
How often will your team meet? Bi-Weekly
Are there any key dates to share for the project? Launch date tbc and end of summer Street party launch
Budget: You don't need to share exact prices, but please share how you're planning to spend the seed funding & what costs you're anticipating to get your project up and running:
Materials for plants, planters, soil and seeds. Some gardening equipment if needed.
Impact: How will your community benefit from this project? Do you have any measurable goals for your project, such as the number of people that will participate? Are you hoping to spread knowledge or increase interest in a specific subject?
More greenery, cleaner air, locally produced food (eg herbs), more community cohesion
Up to 10 families involved
Spread awareness through social media with photos, info and encouraging others to take action
Location: If your project requires physical space, have you decided the location? Do you have all necessary permission and permits to carry out your project at the chosen location?
Yes, our road (St Marks Place) and peoples homes
Additional questions
Please answer the questions below as much as you can.
Growing Space will review the information you provide before your kickstart call.
This will help save time and get you started straight on your project once you receive your seed funding!
Age group of those involved in the project:
From 2yo to 80yo (intergenerational)
Number of children/adults the project will benefit:
10 children and 20 adults
Future activities: describe the activities you aim to run in the future with your Growing Space (for example: gardening, forest school, herb tasting with parents/neighbours/extended families of children/elderly people, etc.):
Gardening, maintenance, cooking, food tasting, intergenerational games, celebrating
Material/trees: what trees/structure(s) or features do you already have in site? (if none, just answer 'none'):
Street trees and house frontages
Does your site have water access?
Yes from our homes and neighbours
Do you want to install a water butt (not obligatory)
Maybe
Please confirm in one sentence that you have permission from a manager or landlord (of the building or head of a school (as necessary) saying that they are happy to make the improvement of their outdoor space and let you lead the project
Yes
What is the exact measurement/size of the proposed space for your My Mini Growing Space?
Small one block road with a dozen trees either side, road is about 50 metres long and 7 metres wide, houses have windows sills that can be green up
What time of the day does the space get the most sun and for how long?
9 to 2pm