COMMUNITY groups across the Tivyside area are being asked to come up with ideas that celebrate local wildlife and bring people together.

So if you have an interesting and exciting idea for a project that brings people together through activities that connect the community and celebrate UK native wildflowers, plants and fungi, Grow Wild wants to hear from you - with grants up to £4,000 available

In the past year projects delivered in Wales have included a huge sand art drawing at Mwnt beach, the transformation of uninspiring spaces into tranquil havens, projects and events on arts and wellbeing, developing derelict spaces into wild flower retreats and reinventing empty grazing land as a native wild flower meadow.

One of the successful recipients was Cardigan Youth art project MicroMACRO Aberteifi.

Project leader Gwenda Mark said: “With our funding from Grow Wild and support from Cardigan’s 4CG, we enlisted the help of artist Marc Treanor and Rachel Shiamh to create inspiring sand art.

“The aim of the project was to encourage people to look closely at wild flowers and observe the complexity and beauty of natural forms. We concentrated on the dandelion, Dant y Llew in Welsh, one of the most reviled yet essential plants for nutrient accumulation and human medicines.

“Our Aberteifi land art group expanded the microscopic images onto the macroscopic scale in sand... some blown up a million fold! I’d encourage anyone with creative ideas to go ahead and apply!”

Maria Golightly, Grow Wild’s Wales partnership manager, said: ““Grow Wild is now looking for more inspirational ideas for new projects and those that stand out from the crowd. We want to hear ideas for projects that engage with young people and students, people living in urban areas or those experiencing hardships and reduced access to services as well as adults who are less engaged with their community and environmental activities.

“We are also encouraging large scale community involvement, ideally in the hundreds and remember the projects must take place in a space or location that is open to the general public.”

Supported by the Big Lottery Fund using National Lottery funding and led by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Grow Wild inspires communities, friends, neighbours and individuals across the UK to come together to enjoy native wild flowers, plants and fungi and transform local spaces, by sowing, growing and enjoying native wild flowers, plants and fungi.

For more information on how to apply go to the Grow Wild website growwilduk.com/ with the closing date on January 15, 2018.