Garden Organic are delighted to have trained over 100 volunteer Master Gardeners in our three programme areas; Warwickshire, Islington and south London.
Each volunteer mentors 10 households just starting to grow their own, as well as promote food growing to their community through events, talks, stalls and schools (however suits them). They share their food growing experience and passion to help others have a go.
Islington Master Gardener Ann Morris said: “I gain huge sense of accomplishment growing my own food and I want to pass this feeling onto others. I’m looking forward to running a food growing workshop with people learning English at the St Mary Magdalene Centre tomorrow and hoping to recruit households to support from this event and others upcoming.”
Project manager Philip Turvil said: “I’m thoroughly delighted to welcome so many lovely volunteers that belief everyone can grow food, whether in a garden or allotment, on their balcony, windowsill or communal land. Even in the short time since our five, two-day foundation courses to get volunteers started, they’ve found lots of innovative and exciting ways to talk to people about growing fruit and veg – and all organically. My thanks to all of them and our Warwickshire co-ordinator Kate Newman and south London co-ordinator Sarah Cannon”.
Read local stories about new volunteers
Islington: First Islington Master Gardeners trained
Islington: New Islington Master Gardeners out and about
South London: Our first group of volunteer Master Gardeners!
What’s next
There are exciting times ahead for the programme. The new Islington co-ordinator Kate Fenhalls joins the team in July and more new Master Gardeners are being welcomed to launch the Norfolk programme from August 2010. Current volunteers will continue with active support from their area co-ordinators with extra advice, resources and further in-service training (the first in August).
Contact the programme team here
Find out more about the programme here
Recommend a local partner to start a new Master Gardener programme in your area
The programme is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme and Sheepdrove Trust with local authorities. This three year pilot programme is intended to role out in more areas to follow the national success of Garden Organic’s Master Composter scheme (over 550 volunteers in 12 areas).
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