We’re growing something BIG to raise vital funds and celebrate The Alnwick Garden’s 25th Anniversary and we’d love for you to join us!
We’re planting, gathering and giving back, in partnership with SUEZ UK and WL Straughan & Son Ltd
We’re inviting local schools, community groups, and businesses to take part in this exciting project. Participants will plant and nurture sunflowers from seed to bloom, learning about sustainability, teamwork, and the rewards of growing something together (with a little friendly competition for the tallest!).
Once the sunflowers are established, they will be collected and replanted along the nature trail at the SUEZ UK Seghill site, creating a vibrant community sunflower field showcasing the efforts of groups from across the region.
Visitors will then be invited to a Sunflower Fun Day, where they can pick a bunch from the thousands of blooms they helped grow and enjoy family-friendly activities celebrating the project (August date TBC)
It’s simple:
SUEZ and W.L Straughan provide sunflower seeds, compost and pots (free to participating groups)
Schools, businesses and community groups grow and nurture their sunflowers in the pots
W.L Straughan collect the mature plants
They are replanted together at the nature trail at SUEZ’s Seghill site to form a sunflower field
A family Sunflower Fun Day invites the public to pick flowers and celebrate
Funds raised support The Alnwick Garden
For 25 years The Alnwick Garden as a charity has: Inspired children through education
Supported health and wellbeing
Brought communities together
Created opportunities for learning about nature
For 38 years SUEZ has: Generated sustainable solutions
Protected ecosystems, preserving and restoring natural habitat
Shared knowledge and supported communities
Championed local sustainability for all generations
For over 30 years W.L Straughan has:
Been proud of their customer service
Been passionate about creating wildlife habitats and conservation work
Cared about the future of our environment
Been a family run business from the land
Educational Benefits Science – plant life cycles, biodiversity, sustainability
Maths – measuring growth, data recording
Art – drawing, painting, photography
Citizenship – community involvement
Social Benefits Pride in contributing to something big
Outdoor learning
Teamwork and responsibility
Corporate social responsibility
Environmental, social governance
Community Recognition Opportunity to be featured on social media
Invitation to the Family Fun Day
Certificate of participation
Featured on the Sunflower Project web page
We’re officially launching our #TAGSunflowerProject competition!
It’s simple. We provide you with pots and sunflower seeds and you grow the most magnificent sunflowers. There is a limited amount of sunflowers available so don’t delay, grab yours today.
To get involved and enter the sunflower growing competition simply:
1. Sign up for The Sunflower Project using the link here. A £5 donation covers seeds, pots and a project pack that you’ll receive.
2. We’ll then be in touch to let you know when your sunflowers and pack will be available to pick up from The Alnwick Garden. The pack includes hints and tips for growing the best sunflowers as well as lots of other information.
3. Grow your sunflower at home, at work, with family and friends and submit your pictures to partnership@alnwickgarden.com – there will be prizes up for grabs for:
Competition T&C’s
Everyone who signs up and sends us a photograph will be sent a certificate of achievement for taking part in The Sunflower Project. You’ll also be invited to a family fun day on 29th August at Suez in Seghill where 6,500 sunflowers have been planted to form a stunning sunflower field.
Winners of the #TAGSunflowerProject Competition will be announced at the family fun day on 29th August 2026. Those unable to make the event will be contacted separately.
There will be 4x winners (one for each photography category) and these will be judged by our gardening team. Entries will only be verified and counted if you have signed up using the registration link provided, donated £5, and submitted your photos via the email address above.
Each winner will receive a day pass to The Alnwick Garden for 2 adults and 4 children, including a round of Golf and of course, a place in our Sunflower Project hall of fame as well as being invited to the family fun day.
W L Straughan & Son Ltd is a family-run contracting business based at Lane Farm, Bedlington, employing over 70 local staff. Part of the Lane Farm Group, the company works closely with its sister businesses in green waste recycling and equestrian services.
Specialising in environmental projects, groundworks, landscaping, and habitat creation, the team is passionate about conservation and caring for the countryside. With strong farming roots, the company is proud to support The Alnwick Garden.
W L Straughan & Son Ltd is generously providing the seeds, pots, and compost for the project, along with expert support. Once the seedlings are ready, their team will collect them from participating schools, community groups, and businesses and transport them to the nature trail at the SUEZ UK site, where the community sunflower field will bloom.
The Education Hub at Seghill Restored Landfill in Cramlington, operated by SUEZ UK, welcomes schools from across the region for hands-on environmental learning.
Visits combine classroom learning with real-world exploration, focusing on sustainability, waste management, reducing, reusing and recycling, habitat restoration, and renewable energy. Pupils explore restored nature areas and take part in practical activities designed to inspire environmental responsibility.
SUEZ also supports The Alnwick Garden through the Sunflower Project by providing land at Seghill where more than 6,000 sunflowers will bloom. The revitalised nature trail will feature a community sunflower field, celebrating collaboration between local schools, groups, and businesses while promoting sustainability and community engagement.
Contact:
The Alnwick Garden – Lauren St Hilaire, Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships (lauren.sthilaire@alnwickgarden.com)
W.L Straughan & Sons LTD – Gary Miller, Director (gary@wlstraughan.co.uk)
SUEZ UK – Victoria Pritchard, Regional Manager Landfill Energy North (victoria.pritchard@suez.com)
What we ask from you:
What we will provide:
Click below for information on how to grow your sunflower
The Alnwick Garden’s Blooming Well group planting their sunflower seeds (16/03/2026)…watch this space!
