Dobbies Garden Centre is inviting applications from charities, schools and community groups as part of their scheme to help improve outdoor green spaces.

Support on offer includes either restoring, starting or transforming green paces. This will include use of the garden centre’s products and tools and donations of plants. Dobbies staff will also volunteer to support each successful project.

It’s Dobbies Community Gardens initiative is part of the garden centre’s wider community support commitments, having supported 350 community groups last year.

“There are so many fantastic local groups near our stores and Dobbies Community Gardens gives us the opportunity to give something back, said the garden centre firm’s operations director Nick Anderson.

“We want to hear from all types of groups, whether it’s a school looking to build a sensory garden, a charity group trying to expand their fruit and vegetable growing project or a community group looking to rejuvenate an unused space.

“Our store colleagues are looking forward to hearing from local groups who would benefit from their support this year. We’re always looking to inspire the next generation of gardeners or offer a helping hand to those groups looking to freshen up their communal garden areas.”

Among community groups that received support last year was Newtongrange Community Garden near Edinburgh.

Laura Joyce from the group said: “The support from Dobbies last year was invaluable to our community garden. With the product donations and gardening expertise we’ve managed to expand the garden with accessible beds, making it an inclusive space for anyone looking to grow fresh fruits and vegetables.”

Applicants need to be based within 20 miles of a Dobbies’s store. The closing date for applications is 31 March.

All nominated projects will be invited along to their local store for the free-to-attend Grow How session on Saturday 3 May, 10:30am, where one winning project per store will be announced.

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