Press release

GROW FOR IT!

The search is on for young people to spread the Grow Wild word

Grow Wild is on the lookout for dynamicproject ideas from 12 to 25-year-olds to raise awareness about the importance of UK native wild flowers and plants. Whether it’s transforming an unloved wall at a youth centre with a wild flower mural, showcasing a passion for writing nature-inspired poetry, ordeveloping a plan for an animation highlighting the benefits of growing wild flowers -Grow Wild welcomes creativity!

Supported by the Big Lottery Fund and led by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Grow Wild’s youth-led initiative,Grow For It is a fresh new opportunity supported bysome great partners throughout the UK;the British Youth Council, Youth Cymru, Northern Ireland Youth Forum and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

While Grow Wild’s overall focus is the transformation of spaces, Grow For It projects can encompass more than sowing and growing to encompass all things wild, originaland creativeGrow For It funding can be used to produce anything that communicates the Grow Wild message about the importance of UK native wild flowers and plants- whether that’s a short film, edgy clothing design, or a wild flower cycle tour.

There will be 50 Grow For It projects across UK during 2015 and 50 more in 2016. Successful applicants will receive £400 to bring their ideas to life and their supporting group or organisation will receive £100 to help towards their support for the individual or group.

Clare Dalton who is leading on the project for Grow Wild says:“We’re looking for 12 to 25-year-olds who are brimming with creative ideas. We’ve worked with young people right across the UK who have designed the project and will be deciding which Grow For It ideas will get the funding. We really want to spread the word and encourage as many ideas from young people as possible.”

Grow For It 2015 project applicants should:

Deliver their project between June and August 2015.

Design a project that inspires and involves other people.

Be known to an eligible supporting group or organisation, such as a youth and sports club, school, college or university.

Host a simple seed giveaway or planting event as part of their project.

Grow Wild are welcoming Grow For It applications from 25February until 2 April 2015.

Ends

For more information, please contact Consolidated PR:

Siseley Coates-Harman / 020 3697 4392 /

Dan Pearson/ 020 3697 4295 /

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Grow Wild: Supported by the Big Lottery Fund and led by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Grow Wild inspires communities, friends, neighbours and individuals across the UK to come together to transform local spaces, by sowing, growing and enjoying native wild flowers.

The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good-cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.

BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and awards grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK.

Since June 2004 BIG has awarded over £5 billion to communities across the UK.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is internationally respected for its outstanding living collection of plants and world-class Herbarium as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development. KewGardens is also a major international visitor attraction. Its landscaped 132 hectares and RBG Kew’s country estate, Wakehurst Place, attract nearly two million visitors every year. Wakehurst Place is home to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world. RBG Kew and its partners have collected and conserved seed from 10% of the world's wild flowering plant species (c.30, 000 species).

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