NEWS: Groundwork partners with Fothergill’s to help communities flourish
More people and places across the UK will reap the benefits of gardening and nature, following a new collaboration between Groundwork and Fothergill’s.
The community charity and leading seed retailer will work together to bring the joy of growing plants to more people, following a donation of 11,000 of food and flower seeds to Groundwork’s local community hub and garden projects across the UK.
Seeds include tomatoes, courgettes, carrots, cabbage, sunflowers, and wild flowers to allow more people to reap the rewards of soil-to-plate food and enjoy the beauty of flowers, all while improving their physical and mental well-being by being outdoors.
This community-led intervention is vital for the growth of people and places. A 2025 report by Natural England found that 91% of people agree that being in nature benefits their physical health, and 90% say that being in nature helps their mental wellbeing.
Despite this, only 26% of adults in the most socially deprived areas of England have a green space close to home.
Graham Duxbury, Groundwork’s UK Chief Executive, said:
Having regular access to a community garden not only helps people feel better, but also brings communities together. Through this partnership, we can ensure more people and places can feel the benefits of being outdoors and making the areas we live in happier, greener, and more sustainable. We look forward to working with Fothergill’s this year and bringing these seeds of positivity to local communities.
Michael Yates, Fothergill’s Chief Executive, said:
Fothergill’s Seeds is delighted to partner with Groundwork to help more people across the UK discover the health and wellbeing benefits of gardening. By donating 10,000+ packets of seeds, we hope to be able to support more of Groundwork’s communities to get growing from seed. Our partnership with Groundwork is close to our hearts and central to our purpose of ‘Helping Everyone Grow’. All of us at Fothergill’s are looking forward to this being just the beginning and that we will be able to bring the joys of growing from seed to more Groundwork communities over the coming years.
The donation will benefit the continued growth of Groundwork’s network of Green Community Hubs – long-term community assets that make nature accessible for everyone while tackling social isolation.
One beneficiary is Paul who attends Groundwork’s Green Community Hub project at Maryport’s The Settlement. If it wasn’t for the hub, Paul would most likely be in his house all day, every day. “Getting out into the fresh air, learning about gardening, planting vegetables, and learning new skills – it really is good and I enjoy coming. It helps with my mental health and I’ve got a lot more confidence. If somebody’s having a bad day, we’ll sit down and have a chat and help each other.”
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact: media@groundwork.org.uk
About Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of charities with a collective mission to take practical action to create a fair and green future in which people, places, and nature thrive. We support communities and businesses to build capacity and resilience in order to tackle hardship, achieve a just transition to net-zero and help nature recover in a way that reduces inequality and leads to healthier, happier lives for all: www.groundwork.org.uk
About Fothergill’s
At Fothergill’s, we believe in the power of gardening to enhance lives and nurture a connection with nature. Committed to providing exceptional quality for every seed sown, we sow over 3000 varieties each year and test them in our laboratory at our home in Suffolk.
Only the best performers will make it into our range, so you can sow with confidence, whether you’re growing a windowsill salad, balcony blooms or a thriving allotment.
