Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh gains lottery award to fund food growing
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credit: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has been awarded £100,000 by the People’s Postcode Lottery to expand its edible gardening project.
The grant, in addition to funding already received from the lottery of £105,000, will be used to fund a further two-year programme to help people to start growing their own fruit and vegetables – through demonstrations, workshops and drop-in sessions.
The current demonstration garden will be transformed into a community space where people of all levels of experience can get involved in growing food and exchanging practical gardening skills.
It is also hoped to extend the benefits of the project to a wider range of participants.
Dr. Ian Edwards, Head of Exhibitions at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh said, “In the two years since the Edible Garden Project has been running it has been possible to see a real change in people’s lives. One young man, for example, who first came with a group of young adults at risk of homelessness has now joined up as one of the project’s volunteers, proudly helping others to grow their own food. This funding will help benefit so many more individuals.”
The Edible Garden project is run jointly with the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society.