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21/05/2012 - Scottish 'Grow Your Own' Projects Receive Funding Boost

Grow Your Own Scotland is an initiative which seeks to create a single resource for all 'grow your own' and greenspace organisations throughout the country.

The increasing appetite for 'grow your own' has received a cash boost from the Scottish Government. The Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson has announced a £600,000 package of support to encourage the development of more community growing and support the growth of Scotland's grow your own sector.

£450,000 of the funding has been allocated to the Central Scotland Green Network Development Fund and will be distributed to community growing projects over three years. The remaining £177,500 has been allocated to organisations to support the growth of the community growing.

Some of the organisations which received funding are:

• Federation of City Farms and Gardens – £40,000 annually for three years. This will support core services, including the provision of training, advice and publications – benefitting over 120 community farms and gardens in Scotland, improving the knowledge and skills of 3,000 volunteers and more than 100,000 visitors.
• Trellis – £35,500 to provide training, field visits, demonstrations sessions at care homes and health facilities, publication of guidance and advice with a focus on therapeutic gardening and the contribution that Grow Your Own makes to positive health outcomes.
• Greenspace Scotland – £19,000 to create a map of a 'typical' Scottish settlement illustrating where different types of community growing can happen.

Mr Stevenson has also launched a new Grow Your Own Scotland website. Developed by the Federation of City Farms and Gardens, the site brings together all the organisations and grow your own resources that are available for people in Scotland.

Speaking at a Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) community growing event at Battleby, near Perth, Mr Stevenson said:

"With the hunger for allotments currently outstripping availability in Scotland the Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting people that are interested in grow your own initiatives and projects. Our National Food and Drink Policy highlights the importance of grow your own initiatives and this funding will help communities all over Scotland increase access to healthy and sustainable food for all."

Click here to visit the Grow Your Own Scotland website (opens in new window).

Source: scotland.gov.uk, 17/05/2012

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