Give it a Grow Wigan is a community group we started in February 2021 with the aim of increasing biodiversity and wildlife in Wigan’s urban spaces. We’re working with residents, community groups and Wigan Council to do this.
We want people to think of their gardens and green spaces as more than just ornamental. They’re living!
By gardening with wildlife and the environment in mind, it’s easy to invite more pollinators and wildlife to visit. Put simply - you just need to provide shelter, food and water.
How it began and how it's going
We started by offering a little free pack of British native wildflower seeds for people to put in their gardens, and the offer was so popular, we handed out over 750 packs of seeds (mostly by hand). This summer, we received loads of photos of people’s beautiful mini meadows and the array of insects that visited them.
Since then, we’ve been working with other community groups to work on public spaces, bringing more wildlife-friendly garden ideas to community gardens so that more people (and wildlife) can enjoy the spaces. We also litter pick fairly regularly to help prevent plastics from breaking down into the soil or entering the waterways.
Who are we and where can you find us
There are 4 of us in the group - Victoria, Ali, Michelle and Dawn, with more volunteers who help on various days, depending on where we’re working in the borough. We’ve worked on projects in Wigan town centre and Tyldesley, with more coming up, and our wildflower seed giveaway was truly borough-wide!
Most recently, we have a new hub at Mesnes Park in Wigan. We’re planning to clear it up and grow our own plants and flowers that will be herbicide, pesticide, and peat-free for use in our projects and we'll donate to residents where possible.
Follow us!
We have an active Facebook page and group where you can keep up to date with our news and learn about our projects. And we also have a blog that we regularly update with tips and ideas about gardening, the environment and more.
Volunteering, and particularly for the environment, has always been important to us. Being outdoors and getting your hands in the soil is good for your mental health and gives you a real boost when you can see what you’ve achieved at the end of the day.
We all give our time for free and are massively appreciative of any volunteers who help with our projects - we couldn’t do it without them!