We looking for new Master Gardeners to join a volunteer network supporting local people and communities to grow fruit and vegetables in their gardens and communal land. This exciting pilot programme is funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food scheme, Sheepdrove Trust and local partners.

Our Norfolk programme kick starts this September. Volunteers are invited to apply now for a two-day foundation course taking place on the 18 and 19 September at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum.
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Contact co-ordinator Gabbie Sharp

Our south London programme continues strongly this October after our inaugural training in June. Volunteers are now invited to apply now for a two-day foundation course taking place on the 9 and 10 October in one of the three programme boroughs: Wandswroth, Lambeth, and Southwark
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Contact co-ordinator Sarah Cannon

Read about our:
Warwickshire programme

Islington programme

Further details
Volunteer co-ordinator Gabbie Sharp explains, “More and more people are becoming interested in growing their own food for reasons ranging from protecting the environment, health, and saving money. Each volunteer Master Gardener will support and encourage 10 local householders to grow their own food.”

Following in the footsteps of its sister scheme – Master Composters – the new Master Gardeners will go out into the community to promote the benefits of food growing through events, community talks, and practical demos. The role of a Master Gardener is not only getting more people into gardening and growing their own, but also to support them through any difficulties.

The great thing about the scheme is you don’t have to be an expert to be eligible to volunteer. All that is required is some experience of growing your own, together with a passion for encouraging others to have a go. Full Master Gardener training is provided covering everything a volunteer should need to know, with additional support from a dedicated Master Gardener manual, interactive website and all of the resources of Garden Organic.

Notes

• The Master Gardener programme is an exciting network of volunteer mentors that help people and communities grow their own; to offer them reasons to grow food, remove barriers against, teach growing skills, and offer support. The programme has also launched in Warwickshire, Islington, and south London (Wandsworth, Lambeth and Southwark).

• Garden Organic is the UK’s leading organic growing charity dedicated to researching and promoting organic gardening, farming and food, and has been at the forefront of the organic horticulture movement for 50 years. The charity, which has over 40,000 supporters, reaches more than three million beneficiaries across the world and is based at Garden Organic Ryton in Warwickshire.

• Local Food has been developed by a consortium of 16 national environmental organisations, and is managed on their behalf by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT). Supported by the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme, Local Food will distribute grants to a variety of food related projects to make locally grown food more accessible.

• The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) is a registered charity, incorporated by Royal Charter, to promote conservation and manage environmental programmes throughout the whole of the UK. It has established management systems for holding and distributing funds totalling more than £20 million annually to environmental projects across the UK.

• The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme was launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The programme funds a range of activities from local food schemes and farmers markets, to education projects teaching people about the local environment.

• The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out £2 million in Lottery good cause money every 24 hours to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.