From grey to green

Talk to the community

Get out and about in your community to see if anyone will donate some plants to help with your project. You could think about approaching garden centres, supermarkets and allotments. Many people have old plant pots in their garden that aren’t used, so why not collect used plant pots from people in your community and recycle them for your project?

The Activity

The activity you choose to do with your group will depend on the plants that have been donated. You can do one, two, or all three of the ideas outlined below.

Be sure to wear gloves when gardening and always wash your hands after the activity!

1. Start by introducing the plants that have been donated. Explain the significance of growing your own using the ‘Food for thought’ poster; the significance of wild flowers in giving local wildlife a home using the ‘What is biodiversity?’ poster; and the positive impact that plants can have on a person’s well-being. There’s a reason that flowers are given to celebrate an event, mark a special occasion and to cheer people up at difficult times.
2. Ask your group to fill planters with the peat-free, multi-purpose compost, then plant the donated plants/herbs.
3. Encourage the group to make little signs, made from recycled wooden lolly sticks or pebbles, to put into the planters to encourage people who find them to pick them. Younger groups might need your help with writing, but they can decorate the signs themselves. Some examples include:

Herbs on the high street

You might write…

'Take a few leaves of parsley to sprinkle on your salad.'

'Tear off a handful of basil to add to a veggie lasagne.'

'Make a cup of herbal tea with a handful of mint.'

Sign off with the name of your Scout group. You may choose to add a social media handle if this is something your group already uses.

4. Go out to your chosen places and leave the planters for people to discover.

And/or

Create a buzz

'We’re creating a buzz in [name of town]. These important plants will provide food, a home and a place to breed for our local bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.'

Sign off with the name of your Scout group. You may choose to add a social media handle if this is something your group already uses.

4. Go out to your chosen places and leave the planters for people to discover.

And/or

Happy plants

We planted this here to say…

'You are blooming awesome!'

'I be-leaf in you!'

'You had me at aloe.'

'You got this – encourage-mint!'

'I’m rooting for you!'

Sign off with the name of your Scout group. You may choose to add a social media handle if this is something your group already uses.

4. Go out to your chosen places and leave the planters for people to discover.

This activity helps contribute towards some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Find out more about the SDGs, and how Scouts across the world are getting involved.