Greener Growth Presents at the International Union For The Conservation of Nature

Greener Growth Presents at the International Union For The Conservation of Nature (IUCN)


On Wednesday May 2nd, Jo Metcalfe, Founder and Director of Greener Growth gave a presentation at the IUCN's National Committee hosted by the Margaret Pyke Trust and their supporter Stephenson Harwood. The conference was titled "Nature and Human Well-Being - Scoring Common Goals."

According to the press release, the meeting was a "celebratory event to mark the 70th anniversary of the IUCN and the 21st birthday of its National Committee in the UK, gathering people interested in the work of IUCN together to learn more about how some of IUCN's UK members contribute to the delivery of the people-centered Sustainable Development Goals ; CBD Aichi targets; resolutions from the IUCN World Conservation Congress and its Hawaii commitments; the IUCN Programme and the work of IUCN Commissions;  European, regional and UK national plans and strategies."

Managing Director at Chris Mahon Environment, CEO at IUCN National Committee UK and Development Director at World Heritage UK, Chris managed to find time to organise the event while also being Greener Growth's executive director! Great job!

Accompanied by GG co-director Sam (The Van) Hardy, Jo gave an inspiring presentation which was warmly received, not only because the talk was informative but because she made the attendees laugh on more than one occasion.

This is always a bonus!

Community unites to plant memorial orchard

Community Unites to Plant Memorial Orchard

Bury Free Press

Residents of the Howard Estate, in Bury St Edmunds, came together last week for the planting of 40 fruit trees in the Howard Memorial Orchard. The project, which saw families adopt a tree in memory of a loved one, was led by community interest company Greener Growth in partnership with the Howard Estate Residents and Tenants Association, Cllr Paul Hopfensperger and Fulchers Funeral Directors. Around 150 people attended the planting on Thursday, April 19, and Saturday, April 21. Joannah Metcalfe, founder of Greener Growth, said: “It went incredibly well. All members of the community, all of different ages and backgrounds, came together. This is why we’re doing it in the first place. It was great to see.”

Howard Estate Memorial Orchard April 2018

Memorial Orchard Project to set down roots


A brand new orchard for one lucky community was planted last week on 19th and 21st April on the Howard Estate in Bury St Edmunds. Greener Growth are no strangers to working with community groups to create beautiful shared green space where there was once none. We are delighted to be able to plant a Heritage Orchard at the end of the football pitch on an unused area of land and enhance the landscape in this very urban setting. This is being done to further our conservation work in the town and to extend the opportunity to teach healthy eating in this community by establishing more fresh fruit provision – these trees will provide an extensive range of apples, pears, plums, cherries and greengages once they have matured.”

It was officially opened by the Mayor and the heritage trees were planted with care with residents and local children from Howard & Tollgate Primary schools. Many residents from the Howard Estate came to officially choose their tree and it was great to see so many pitching up to support the community.

We have been working alongside the Howard Estate Association of Residents and Tenants (HEART) for some months now and are excited to be behind this innovative design, aimed at commemorating
loved ones who have a connection to the community. HEART chairperson Ernie Broom is delighted at the support shown by our team and said “It is such a lovely idea to incorporate the memorial element into the community planting scheme. This way the local community can not only be involved in creating something for future generations to enjoy, but it also is an opportunity to remember those who
used to live on Howard Estate in years past.”

Big thanks to L. Fulchurs funeral directors for their sponsorship and the Borough advice and local councillors, especially Paul Hopfensperger for his guidance enthusiasm and Rupert Everitt, Tom Murray & Max Clarke for all turning up and helping out, as did so many others.

We so enjoyed meeting you all and we'll be back to help you nurture your nature!

Click here to see more of our community projects.

If you feel inspired by some of the work we do, why not get involved? Get in touch via our contact form

Press Release: Greener Growth at The Tickell Arms

Press Release: Greener Growth at The Tickell Arms


Cambridgeshire pub and restaurant, The Tickell Arms in Whittlesford, has become the very first corporate client of Community Interest Company, Greener Growth. The project centres around making the most of the pub’s beer garden, walled rose garden and pond, all whilst promoting staff well-being.

Greener Growth’s aim is to promote conservation, biodiversity and permaculture but always with a focus on social cohesion. Current projects include working with prisoners and ex-offenders to grow their own food and with school children to re-green outside play areas bringing nature into the school. The organisation also undertakes private garden makeovers with a focus on edible produce and biodiversity.

Greener Growth’s latest project at The Tickell Arms in Whittlesford is the first corporate project to date. Founder, Joannah Metcalfe and her team are transforming the gardens of this much-loved local pub and restaurant with the help of staff who are growing edible produce which is already starting to be prepared by the chefs and served to customers in the restaurant. At the same time Jo holds regular staff well-being sessions which focus on nutrition and stress relief.

Assistant Manager, Jose Carneiro Novaes, described the impact that these sessions has had on his daily life, “The increase in my energy levels was considerable after a chat with Jo - she explained how simple changes in eating and daily habits could give me more energy. The best part of it is that it’s all very simple to do and doesn’t require extra money, just a willingness to change old habits.”

Head Chef Jay Witt told us about the impact the project has had on the kitchen, "Having fresh produce in the garden is brilliant - we use it for salads and special garnishes like sautéed rainbow chard, herbs for the mayonnaise, rhubarb for the duck breast and we have the currants yet to use. Often when we are picking these the customers sitting out in the garden ask us questions about what we are cooking. It's great to have this interaction as normally chefs don’t have this."

Joannah’s approach to well-being is based on a ‘Recovery Through Nature’ ethos. She draws on her 28 years of experience with natural medicine to help people take back control of their own health and well-being, all whilst enjoying the process. Jo explained her perspective on health and nature, “The Natural World can have a profound impact on our well-being. As we see various forms of ill health and “dis-ease” rise – and many in the Developed World ageing prematurely – an increasing number of individuals and the more progressive companies are looking again at preventative healthcare strategies.”

It’s not just staff who are benefiting. The garden project at The Tickell Arms has created a more engaging outside space for customers to enjoy too. The team have installed hand-made bench planters, a natural willow gate separating the garden from the compost area, a fruit cage, bird and bat boxes and even a ‘bug hotel’ - sure to capture children’s imaginations!

The focus of Greener Growth is very much on combating the stresses and strains we put ourselves under in our busy lives, as Joannah explained, “Basic quality of life and health is eroded by long working hours in urban jungles with little or no contact with the outdoors and the natural rhythms of life. At Greener Growth we passionately believe that we can help by working with various communities, at work and at home, to grow food, enhance nature and enjoy wild places and green spaces. As we grow food and conserve wildlife, we help ourselves and each other in a multitude of ways.”

The profit generated from the well-being and gardening project at The Tickell Arms will help support Greener Growth’s work with disadvantaged schools, “We’re currently working with two schools where our work is partially funded, East Point Academy in Lowestoft and Cecil Gowing Infant School in Norwich (with five more in Bury St Edmunds in the pipeline!) The project at The Tickell Arms is helping us raise the funds we need to extend these projects to other disadvantaged schools.”

Jo is hopeful that the project at The Tickell Arms will sow the seeds for bringing her unique marriage of greener spaces and staff well-being to other businesses in East Anglia.

Click here to read The Tickell Arms' case study.

If you feel inspired by some of the work we do, why not get involved? Get in touch via our contact form.

Helping prison communities

Helping prison communities


Our work doesn’t stop when we leave, we intend for it to have a lasting impact. For one group of people this rings particularly true. Through our work with prisons and their inmates we strive to help them not only on the prison grounds, but beyond. The benefits of horticulture are seen in people’s wellbeing and nutritional information will help them eat healthy balanced diets going forward.

A big part of our work, however, lies in the rehabilitation of the prisoners. Real rehabilitation is about coming to terms with the past whilst creating positive plans for the future, filled with new possibilities. We’ve found that people who find work upon being released rarely re-offend.

The longer we work in prisons, the more we recognise many of the prisoners were incarcerated at a point of profound crisis in their lives. Yes, there are some who may be serial offenders, but many are in for first-time offences and very keen to create, even re- invent, their lives upon release. We firmly believe anyone can make changes if given the right resources. By discussing their options, as we explore the virtues of growing fresh food and eating healthily, we build bridges of encouragement that may lead to refreshing new ideas. It’s planting seeds metaphorically, as well as literally.

Every prisoner who work with us consistently receives a Greener Growth Certificate of Attendance for each section of our courses. This is then added to their folder alongside our information and a testimonial, which will help them when they leave prison. The folder will be presented to them when they leave or move on and it will help them maintain contact with Greener Growth, if they choose to pass on the help they themselves received.

Our work with prisons covers the following:

If you feel inspired by some of the work we do, why not get involved? Here are some of the ways you can get help us. If you have other ideas, get in touch via our contact form.