Growing in our communities provides solutions to address a number of issues and opportunities and is connected to a wide range of local, regional and national government policies and outcomes.

Understanding our role in the local, regional and national landscape will help us to connect with partners and policy opportunities, where we can extend our reach and influence, grow and thrive and help drive wider system change so that everyone can benefit from growing with nature, accessing fresh local food and taking climate action on our doorsteps.

Consider reaching out to demonstrate the positive impact your actions and activities have both locally in your community and also regionally, nationally and globally. Through making connections, our network becomes stronger and energised and supported when we need it. 

There can be a lot to consider, this approach may help:

Local

Partners examples include; Schools, health services, housing providers, local business, community councils, local councillors and MSPs.

Regional

Partner examples include; other growing sites, health and other networks, climate hubs.

See your Local Authority Food Growing or related strategy, have a look at your Local Development Plan.

National

Anyone who grows, particularly when it is with and for nature, is contributing to the Scottish Government’s national outcomes that we share as citizens, from health to biodiversity and net-zero targets.  

Get Growing Scotland advocates to the government for growing in the community and other supportive policies that support local food solutions. You can respond to policy consultations yourself or share your experiences and ideas, and we will feed these into our policy responses.