Our Communities team have been out and about all over the UK this year helping people grow organically, recycle and be greener.

Alternative text should describe the visual content of the image. — Our volunteers have provided 4,500 hours of workshops, talks and more across the country

Every Garden Matters and any size garden will do. Big or small, pot or plot – interconnected gardens have a significant impact on biodiversity. To inspire and equip more people with the skills to ‘make their garden matter’ our Communities Team are delivering fantastic work around the UK.

Our community-based projects are thriving, with more than 350 volunteers busy supporting their local schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods to take steps towards more environmentally friendly activities in their gardens and beyond.

Volunteers bring their enthusiasm for sustainability and passion for the environment, inspiring others to make small but meaningful changes to deliver climate action. In 2025, community volunteers recorded more than 4,500 hours and 13,000 conversations!

Our incredible volunteers have represented the charity at big events including The Royal Norfolk Show and Yeo Valley’s Garden Festival, as well as smaller community gatherings like the Backwell Walking Carnival in North Somerset, where the team won ‘Best in Carnival’ for their 20ft long brandling worm! Alongside events, volunteers have delivered many talks, guided visitors around compost demonstration areas, and inspired children at school workshops.

We celebrated many achievements including the first anniversary of our ‘Rugby Community Champions’ Programme where volunteers have been lending a hand in community gardens, running fun activities for children, and hosting stalls at local events. Senior Project Coordinator Rachel Phillips-Street picked up an award as one of 2025’s ‘Environment 100’.

This year, we delivered projects in Cumbria, Shropshire, Suffolk, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, North Somerset, Buckinghamshire, Rugby, West Northamptonshire, East London, Hampshire, and the Northeast. This work is funded by waste service providers, local government and charity partners.

We're hugely grateful to all our partners that share our vision of making 'Every Garden Matter', enabling us to reach out to communities with training, resources and volunteer programmes. They inspire and share skills to help more people get composting, growing food organically and seed saving.

Some key projects from 2025 🔗

Schools Food Web, Shropshire - we’ve supported more than 20 schools in the county to take control of their waste, with wonderful results for both the schools and the children. This project uses games, stories, microscopes, puppets and treasure hunts, so children and staff can learn how they could turn fruit peelings, paper towels and cardboard boxes into compost. This, in turn, can be used in the school gardens to increase biodiversity, grow food, reduce waste and lock carbon into the soil.
We’ve been running training sessions with Grow, Cook Eat Champions volunteering their time in West Northamptonshire. The programme, in collaboration with The Hope Centre, Community Healthworks and West Northamptonshire Council, offers recipes, healthy eating tips and growing advice across a range of brilliant projects.
Our Rugby Community Champion’ scheme, run in conjunction with Rugby Borough Council, reached an exciting milestone this year– completing its first successful year and securing funding for a second! It offers training and advice to residents about sustainable gardening, including how to grow food, compost, and prevent waste.
The Greening Campaign has also gone from strength-to-strength this year, working with 20 communities across Hampshire. We’re incredibly proud to run the ‘Cycle of Seed’ project, which focuses on food growing and food security, as well as supporting effective waste prevention activities. The campaign offers toolkits, expert support, training and workshops to build skills and help people feel they’re making a difference.
Our Gloucestershire Master Composters has expanded this year with more training opportunities and support for community composting. More than 15 composters are sharing skills across the county, in collaboration with Gloucestershire Country Council.