National Botanic Garden announces Cardiff partnership
Making world-leading scientific research, accessible horticultural training and quality Welsh produce accessible to all.
Insole Court has been announced as the Growing the Future Project’s flagship partner hub site in South East Wales. A historic house and gardens in the heart of Cardiff, Insole Court offers a diverse range of cultural and community activities to learn, create and play. By removing barriers to participation, this exciting new partnership will make horticultural training, quality Welsh produce and cutting-edge, world-leading scientific research accessible to all in Cardiff and South East Wales.
The Growing the Future Project, a £2.3 million project based at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, works to champion Welsh horticulture, plants for pollinators, the protection of wildlife and the virtues of growing plants for food, fun, health and well-being, has already delivered over 60,000 engagements to participants since its launch in late September 2017. The Project seeks to work with organisations who share both the Vision of the Project and the Mission of the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
Insole Court is a Victorian mansion and gardens in Llandaff. Since undergoing a multi-million pound redevelopment, it has become a popular visitor destination and events venue. The site is now run by the Insole Court Trust, a registered charity and offers daily classes, activities and public events such as concerts and talks. It also features an interactive exhibition, ‘This House is a Stage’ that tells the history of the mansion and the Insole family.
Insole Court’s Outreach Officer, Cassie Crocker commented:
“We are delighted to be affiliated with the Natoinal Botanic Garden of Wales through the Growing the Future Project. As an inner-city site there is a real need to make green spaces available to the community, to enhance wellbeing and escape city noise. We have regular schools groups working in the gardens as well as volunteer gardener groups and a community allotment. We anticipate that this collaboration will benefit the whole of Cardiff by bringing the National Botanic Garden’s exciting scientific research to its doorstep.”
Leading the Project’s horticultural training at Insole Court will be Horticultural Trainer, Ben Wilde, a newly-qualified apprentice of the National Botanic Garden. The expertise and knowledge that Ben has gained through working within the Garden’s Horticulture Team will be invaluable in delivering training on a wide range of topics at Insole Court and will undoubtedly help in building the success of the site’s gardens. Ben says,
“I am really looking forward to sharing what I’ve learned here at the Garden with the diverse audience at Insole Court and I am eager to get stuck in. I am also excited to work with Insole and see how the grounds flourish in the coming years.”
We are pleased to announce an exciting calendar of child and family courses has been developed. Teaming up with Arty Cooks, pre-school children will have the opportunity to learn basic cookery skills, produce their own dishes, while learning about their ingredients, their different shapes, colours and varieties, and where they grow.
From horticultural training to advice ranging from how to build your own bee hotel from recycled materials to the best plants to grow in your garden or balcony, this partnership will enable the Growing the Future Project and the National Botanic Garden of Wales to bring their work and expertise to a new audience.
One space for each adult course will be fully subsidised and candidates can apply to the Growing the Future Project by email or letter to gtfadmin@gardenofwales.org.uk.
Applications to be submitted by a referral letter from GP or registered charity, spaces are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Come and join us for the official launch on Friday 1st November and take part in our workshops for individuals and families, for more information on how to take part visit botanicgarden.wales and insolecourt.org.
The Growing the Future Project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
For more information on the Project’s courses and events please visit botanicgarden.wales/science/growing-the-future, email gtf@gardenofwales.org.uk or call 01558 667150. For more information on Insole Court and the activities offered there, please visit insolecourt.org, email enquiries@insolecourt.org or call 02921 167920.
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