Young Gardeners

What is our Young Gardeners Programme?

Our Young Gardeners Programme helps our beneficiaries develop gardening skills while creating opportunities to build friendships and social connections.

Many young people with additional needs attend schools far from home, which can make it harder for them to form and maintain friendships outside of school. This programme gives participants the chance to meet like-minded people, learn new skills, and build meaningful connections.

Families meet once a month at weekends, giving parents the opportunity to share ideas, socialise, and support one another. The programme is about more than growing vegetables and plants, it also helps grow strong, lasting friendships and relationships.

Stories & Impact

During the 2024/25 programme, nine families took part, visiting their allotment plots each month, with the following outcomes achieved:

Increased time outdoors and opportunities for families to spend quality time together
Improved knowledge of healthy eating trough hands-on growing and food education
Development of transferable skills, enabling participants to continue gardening projects at home

Our Young Gardeners’ Latest Projects

Our Young Gardeners ‘Dig Deep’ with Lovell Homes

Our Young Gardeners were given the chance to design and create their first commercial garden, which will be at the show home of the new Edward’s Birch development being built by Lovell in Morpeth.

Read more about this fantastic partnership

Hear from those involved

Alfie

“Alnwick Gardens help me to come to think of friends and family together”

Meet the Team

Lisa Winter

Wellbeing Officer

Hi my name is Lisa, and I am the Wellbeing Officer for Young People at The Alnwick Garden! I am passionate about nurturing both plants and people. I lead vital drug education workshops, utilising the garden’s unique resources to equip young people with the honest knowledge and resilience tools they need to make safe, informed life choices. In addition to substance awareness education, I run our “Seed to Table” Roots and Shoots vegetable growing programme, helping school groups and families with SEND children learn about healthy eating through growing vegetables completely from scratch. I help school children and Special Educational Needs (SEN) students build confidence, develop vital sensory skills, and connect deeply with nature. I am passionate about creating inclusive, safe environments where every young person can discover their strengths and thrive.

How your donation can help

Every donation, large or small, helps us inspire and empower young people through the Young Gardeners programme. Your generosity provides opportunities for young people to connect with nature, learn practical horticultural skills, build confidence, and develop positive pathways for the future. Through hands-on experiences in a supportive environment, participants gain valuable knowledge, improve their wellbeing, and discover their potential. With your help, we can continue nurturing the next generation, helping young people grow, thrive, and achieve more than they ever thought possible.

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