WYRE Forest organisations and communities are being invited to apply for funding as part of a national campaign to transform local areas by sowing and growing UK native plants.

The Grow Wild initiative, supported by the Big Lottery Fund and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, is providing grants of £1,000 to £4,000.

It has more than £500,000 to share over the next three years to non-for-profit groups who put forward the most creative ideas to give a communal space a new lease of life.

The initiative is also looking for projects that offer volunteering opportunities for teenagers, with eye-catching results.

Projects should also use fun stories and methods to share photos and activities from their development as they find new ways of using native plants to revitalise their local area.

Vinny Ganley, England partnership manager, said: “A community project can be anything that ignites the interest of the community with activities that show UK native plants at their best.

“It’s not just about what you plant, but how you plant. We want groups to think creatively with events, art, music and more.”

Grow Wild funded a network of 75 projects last year, which included the reimagining of a train station entrance into an interactive tour of planted spaces, a sensory garden for people with disabilities and projects involving streetscapes, woodlands, housing estates and murals.

David Tibbatts, programme manager, said: “We want to hear from voluntary, community and youth groups who would like Grow Wild to help them realise a vision of transforming their local area as part of a network of people who are bringing colour and wildlife to their community’s shared spaces.”

Applications for funding must be received by December 2 where a panel of experts will then help decide who will receive funding.

Successful groups will be notified in February 2015 ready to start their project in March and finish by October 2015.

For more information about the initiative or to apply for the funding visit growwilduk.com/get-funding