Leicestershire Master Gardeners

Leicestershire Master Gardeners support novice food growers individually in their own homes and gardens, and through community growing projects.

We are funded by Leicestershire County Council Public Health, to bring the benefits of food growing to the most vulnerable communities, right across the county. We have over 60 Master Gardener volunteers, with teams located in every borough and district.

Food growing with us tackles the big issues of childhood obesity, food poverty, social isolation and poor mental health, as well as getting all sections of the community outdoors and active.

We offer Leicestershire residents 1:1 mentoring for 12 months, taking them through a full season to inspire, build confidence and gain basic gardening skills. Supported growers include people with mental or physical disabilities, families with young children, housebound carers and new home owners who need some encouragement and advice to get to grips with their new garden.

In community settings, we find that food growing is the perfect way to build communities and grow people. Our volunteers share their gardening knowledge and skills and inspire new growers in a wide range of settings, from nurseries and schools, through residents’ gardens on housing estates, to groups for elderly residents of care homes. In addition to offering gardening advice, with support from Garden Organic, our volunteers have enabled many new groups to become constituted and find funding, working towards becoming sustainable community projects.

We work closely with a wide range of 3rd sector and local government organisations to support existing as well as new food growing communities, and have developed a strong and supportive network with community food growers across the county.

Our volunteers find that sharing their passion for growing with others is deeply satisfying, as well as an excellent way of building their own confidence and gardening knowledge. For some it has enabled a return to work or change of career through developing new skills and experiences.

Get involved

Contact us to find your nearest local community garden, to request help for yourself or your community group, or to find out more about becoming a Master Gardener volunteer.

Alison McGrath, Coordinator, amcgrath@gardenorganic.org.uk, tel: 07584 343 847