Grow for the Future

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Grow for the Future is a pioneering Hounslow initiative and the UK’s first policy to transform unused council land to grow food and educate children on healthy living. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – which is part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda - this new policy will enable local communities to grow food.

The aim is to pair each new site with a local school or VCSE group in areas across the borough which are built up and have limited access to green spaces and to encourage individuals to get active, get involved and participate in local community growing sites.

The Council plans to open-up four new sites per year. The initial phase of Grow for the Future is working with areas of unused council-owned land, but subsequent phases will assess private wasteland that could be leased or purchased by the Council and opened up to the public and schools as community growing and educational spaces.

Van Gogh Close

Third space that is being transformed into a site which will include fruit trees, wildflowers, bulbs and a wood carving to commemorate Van Gogh's time in Isleworth. Planting will be taking place end of 2024 - early 2025.

Brabazon Estate- Henley's Orchard

The second orchard project of Hounslow's Grow for the Future initiative has opened up a neglected alleyway in Cranford's Brabazon Estate and transformed it into a thriving space with new fruit trees and lavender. The site is still being progressed due to constant fly tips and littering, however the team is working with residents to combat these issues and foster more ownership of the space. More planting to come this year and early 2025.

'Creative Growing' sessions hosted by Creative Spaces London to encourage residents of all ages to learn the skills needed to grow food. These sessions include indoor planting, visits to local parks and open spaces, creating their own gardening toolkit, and a summer school has now ended.

Westmacott Drive Open Space

The initiative's first orchard project has transformed an underused, empty space in Westmacott Drive Open Space (see video below) into a natural green haven.

The wildflower meadow has grown, and fruit trees have been established. Raspberry and blackberry bushes have been intertwined with the native hedging and the local school children have grown sunflowers which were planted on one of the boundary sides closest to the wildflower meadow.





Grow for the Future is a pioneering Hounslow initiative and the UK’s first policy to transform unused council land to grow food and educate children on healthy living. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – which is part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda - this new policy will enable local communities to grow food.

The aim is to pair each new site with a local school or VCSE group in areas across the borough which are built up and have limited access to green spaces and to encourage individuals to get active, get involved and participate in local community growing sites.

The Council plans to open-up four new sites per year. The initial phase of Grow for the Future is working with areas of unused council-owned land, but subsequent phases will assess private wasteland that could be leased or purchased by the Council and opened up to the public and schools as community growing and educational spaces.

Van Gogh Close

Third space that is being transformed into a site which will include fruit trees, wildflowers, bulbs and a wood carving to commemorate Van Gogh's time in Isleworth. Planting will be taking place end of 2024 - early 2025.

Brabazon Estate- Henley's Orchard

The second orchard project of Hounslow's Grow for the Future initiative has opened up a neglected alleyway in Cranford's Brabazon Estate and transformed it into a thriving space with new fruit trees and lavender. The site is still being progressed due to constant fly tips and littering, however the team is working with residents to combat these issues and foster more ownership of the space. More planting to come this year and early 2025.

'Creative Growing' sessions hosted by Creative Spaces London to encourage residents of all ages to learn the skills needed to grow food. These sessions include indoor planting, visits to local parks and open spaces, creating their own gardening toolkit, and a summer school has now ended.

Westmacott Drive Open Space

The initiative's first orchard project has transformed an underused, empty space in Westmacott Drive Open Space (see video below) into a natural green haven.

The wildflower meadow has grown, and fruit trees have been established. Raspberry and blackberry bushes have been intertwined with the native hedging and the local school children have grown sunflowers which were planted on one of the boundary sides closest to the wildflower meadow.





Page last updated: 13 Nov 2024, 09:13 AM