From local knowledge to practical action

Communities have a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the places where they live. But turning that into practical action isn't always straightforward.

GROWS is a Greener Waldringfield initiative that aims to bring people together, recognise what's already happening and help communities build on their strengths.

Drawing on our experience in Waldringfield, we want to share approaches that work, learn from others and help good ideas spread across Suffolk and beyond.

What GROWS stands for

GATHER

Bring together the people who can make things happen locally.

RECOGNISE

Recognise and value local wildlife, habitats and landscapes, alongside the knowledge, skills and experience that people already have.

ORGANISE

Turn knowledge and enthusiasm into achievable practical action.

WIDEN

Share what works so successful approaches can travel between communities, across Suffolk and ultimately across the country.

SHARE

Help communities learn from one another by exchanging experience, ideas and practical approaches.

Our Ask

Communities have much to offer, but they need the right support to make the most of their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm.

Through GROWS, we're calling for:

  • Easier access to expertise: Make practical expertise easier for communities to find and access.

  • Simpler funding: Make small-scale funding simpler and proportionate.

  • Clearer guidance: Help communities navigate environmental schemes and opportunities.

  • Better partnerships: Support constructive partnerships between communities, and landowners.

  • Recognition of local contributions: Value local knowledge, biological recording, cultural understanding of landscape and voluntary action.

  • Sharing what works: Help successful community approaches to be shared and replicated rather than repeatedly reinvented.

Learning from Waldringfield in Suffolk, sharing more widely

GROWS begins with the experience and knowledge built up in and around Waldringfield, but its ambitions reach further.

We want to connect with other communities, share lessons from local experience and bring practical suggestions to policymakers about what would help community-led action succeed.