Tuesday November 2nd 2021
The Newtongrange Guerrilla Gardeners have been recognised by Action Earth for their hard work transforming the Midlothian village and awarded a grant to continue their project into 2022.
What began as an informal meet-up of locals hoping to brighten up their surroundings gathered momentum throughout 2021, with the green-fingered group breathing new life into the village, including areas surrounding the school nursery, library, leisure centre and historic miners’ wheel.
It is this area that particularly caught the attention of Volunteering Matters Action Earth who have awarded the voluntary group £250 to spend on bulbs, plants, and equipment to ensure it continues to bloom well into 2022.
The grant is part of the Volunteering Matters’ Action Earth campaign which aims to help local communities respond to climate change. Action Earth is supporting around 140 projects in Scotland in 2021 with grant awards of up to £500. These grants are aimed at groups who support and encourage volunteer activity through practical environmental projects for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Grant funding for the campaign is provided by NatureScot.
Established in May 2021, the Newtongrange Guerrilla Gardeners is a voluntary community group brought together by a shared passion for brightening up the village, making it a greener and more welcoming place for all. Their aim is to provide an opportunity for locals to work together to transform public spaces and boost the well-being of all villagers. From informal gardening evenings to flash mob style litter picks, they believe everyone can make a positive difference to their local environment.
Newtongrange Guerrilla Gardeners co-ordinator, Rebecca McCosh, hopes this financial boost from Action Earth will encourage more people to get behind the group’s work.
“This grant from Volunteering Matters’ Action Earth will enable our volunteers to continue to take practical action to improve the area. These local outdoor spaces are a shared resource and we’re encouraging everybody to get involved. Even the smallest individual action can help.”
If you are keen to get involved, learn new skills, improve your local environment, and have fun at the same time, follow the Newtongrange Guerrilla Gardeners on Facebook for information on their next meet-up.
Action Earth is organised by Volunteering Matters. Volunteering Matters believes everyone in the UK should have the opportunity to thrive. So they bring people together through volunteering to tackle some of society’s most complex issues. Their aim is to turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, build stronger communities and a better future for all.
www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk
NatureScot is providing grants of up to £500 to encourage volunteers to get involved in improving Scottish Biodiversity. NatureScot is the Government’s statutory advisor on the conservation, enhancement, enjoyment, understanding and sustainable use of the natural heritage. www.snh.org.uk
To register for a grant or get more information about Action Earth from Volunteering Matters visit www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk/actionearth
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