Swindon groups invited to apply for Dobbies' 'Helping Your Community Grow' initiative

Back by popular demand, Dobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is launching its 2023 Helping Your Community Grow campaign in Swindon.

Designed to enhance communities local to its stores, this initiative will see a community group from Swindon receive gardening products, support and expertise from the Dobbies team.

Now in its 13th year, the Helping Your Community Grow initiative has sustainability at its core and encourages people across the country to care for, nurture and protect their green spaces.

Dobbies is calling on local groups in the town that want to help their community space thrive in a sustainable way, to get in touch.

A spokesperson from the garden centre said: "Whether it's a school allotment project that allows kids to learn about the health and environmental benefits of growing fruit and vegetables; a community garden or space, looking to bring the outside in; or a charity looking to create a sensory garden to encourage everyone outdoors, Dobbies wants to positively impact communities through its love of gardening."

This year, Dobbies will offer advice, gardening products and tools to a community group in Swindon to help them transform their space. Dobbies’ award-winning peat-free compost recycled and recyclable pots, UK-sourced plants, and safer pest control products are among the many products the garden centre will donate.

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies said: “Community is at the heart of what we do at Dobbies and we're proud to bring back Helping Your Community Grow for the 13th year.

“Riding for the Disabled Association in Glasgow is just one of the many projects we supported in 2022 and highlights the diversity of the projects we aim to collaborate with. Thank you and well done to the Milngavie team for their excellent work on this project.

"As we’re committed to environmentally-friendly practices, we’re especially interested in hearing from projects in Swindon with sustainability at their core. As always, our teams will share their expertise in products and practices to ensure an eco-friendly approach."

Lynda McKeeman, Yard Manager at Riding for the Disabled Association Glasgow, was thankful for the support.

She said: “Dobbies support and funding allowed us to create a bright and fragrant sensory trail through the woodland area and out into the pond circuit which has been great for stimulating the senses of the riders and horses.

“We support over 80 people with disabilities and give them the opportunity to learn to ride or spend time with a horse. Our youngest participant is just 2 years old, and our most senior is in their 70s. Many of our attendees have physical disabilities, psychological problems or just need a confidence boost, and horsemanship is a great way to help rehabilitate them.”

Applications for 2023 are now open. Eligible groups must be located within 20 miles of Dobbies’ Swindon store.

A shortlist of community groups for each store will be made and Dobbies will call on members of the public to vote for their favourite project. Based on the public vote, there will be one winner per store, with the project receiving the most votes securing the national winner title. They will receive additional funding and support.

In addition to Helping Your Community Grow, there will be further opportunities for community groups looking for support, with small grants available from their nearest Dobbies store.

For more information about how to take part in Dobbies’ Helping Your Community Grow campaign, those interested can visit: https://www.dobbies.com/helping-your-community-grow