We want to build a healthier, greener city. Somewhere that’s full of beans. The kind of city you want to live in.  Nature in cities makes a lot of sense –it helps reduce flooding, tackle climate change, and improve air quality. Plus nature supports our health and wellbeing, and provides opportunities to strengthen communities. Founded in 2009, Sow the City is an award winning, Manchester-based social enterprise, with a mission to empower communities to grow and live sustainably. We really believe in: • Encouraging people in urban areas to grow and eat nutritious food.  • Involving local people in our projects to develop stronger, more cohesive communities. • Running practical horticultural and environmental training courses that provide skills and knowledge for life, learning and employment. • Quality greenspace that is attractive and productive and that contributes to the long term future of the planet. • Using sustainable materials to minimise the environmental impact of our projects. • Teaching organic practices and permaculture and promoting the use of plant species that encourage wildlife. • Researching and testing innovative technology and techniques that can be used for urban agriculture. Take a look at Sow the City’s 2019/20 Social Impact Statement for more information about how our work has benefited communities and the environment. 

  Sow the City is a small but hardworking team of five, supported by a wider team of trusted specialists and contractors who bring expert advice and support for specific projects when required. Jon Ross Born and raised in Manchester, Jon knows a lot about the soil in this part of the country. Having graduated with a masters in environmental management, he began his career at WSP Environmental doing contaminated land and corporate social responsibility work. He then worked for Transport for Greater Manchester delivering projects including the Rochdale Bus Station Hydroelectric Power Scheme, the Greater Manchester Climate Change Strategy, and he was lead person for biodiversity for the transport authority. Jon founded Sow the City with just a few bags of compost in 2009. Since then he has steered the social enterprise into an award winning organisation. Jon is passionate about the potential for urban agriculture to improve his home town and loves to grow his own veg when he’s not helping other people do the same. Kieron McGlasson Having grown up in the Lake District under the guidance of his Dad, a landscape gardener, Kieron has always thought it normal to grow your own food. After moving to Manchester for university, Kieron spent nine years in the regeneration sector at BDP delivering high profile projects. These often centred on the community engagement and sustainability elements of a city plan or neighbourhood strategy. Kieron then worked for two years in the social enterprise sector helping to build healthier communities in Salford. Joining Sow the City in early 2014 has allowed Kieron to combine his roots, experience and personal interests with a career across the public, private and social enterprise sectors. His work combines his passions for food growing, his environmental conscience and his work in community development to create a happier and healthier city. Emily Corner Emily was born in Salford and has lived in Manchester for the past five years. After studying Geography at The University of Edinburgh, she moved back to the Manchester area and began working and volunteering for The Groundwork Trust in Oldham and The Conservation Volunteers in Manchester focusing on practical conservation, countryside access and environmental education. She then took up a role with Newground and Together Housing facilitating community gardening across Burnley and Blackburn. Emily began working for Sow the City in early 2018 and was able to bring along experience in community food growing, outreach and engagement as well as practical knowledge of habitat management and Forest Schools. Laura Weaver Laura was born and raised in Staffordshire and has always had a passion and connection to nature.  She became an adopted Mancunian in 2012 when she came to Manchester to study Fine Art. Since leaving university Laura has been involved with projects with Blaze Arts and Step Up, which is where she found her passion for running art sessions and bringing creativity to communities. Laura recently joined the team in June and is the Link Worker for our most recent project Nature for Health whilst also acting as Assistant Building Manager for the Boiler House. Ciarán McLoughlin Born in Liverpool and raised in Cheshire, Ciarán comes from a long line of gardeners and plant enthusiasts. In his professional life, he has worked in primary education for approximately 10 years supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Ciarán leapt at the chance to join the Sow the City team when the opportunity arose and is employed as a community grower, supporting various schools, groups, and associations throughout Greater Manchester. In his spare time Ciarán can be found tending his own allotment in Blackley, North Manchester, where he lives with his wife, dog and three cats. Please click here to find out how you can volunteer or work for Sow the City.

We are proud of the work we do and the communities we work with. We have even won some awards! Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2020 Spirit of Manchester Business Citizenship Award 2017 Northern Enterprise 2016 Health and Wellbeing Category Award Winners. Silver Show Garden award at Dig the City 2015 for our Growing Manchester “Tales from the Plot" installation. Shortlisted in the Manchester Evening News Environment Awards 2014 Environment and Health Project category. Highly commended in the Social Enterprise North West Awards 2013 Environmental Excellence category. Sow the City press coverage: About Manchester: “First shoots of Nature Takeover appear in Moss Side as part of city-wide programme” (June 2021) Bury Times: New ‘green health’ walk is launched by Prestwich Hospital (May 2021) BBC Two - Stories of Us: Sow the City help Longsight’s Let’s Keep Growing clean up their neighbourhood to make it a nicer place to live for everyone (Sep 2020) iiNews: “How to get involved in saving the planet right now – in your own back yard” (Sep 2019) About Manchester - Moss Side Repair Café and Longsight project lead the way in raising awareness of sustainability (Sep 2019) Bury Times - Disused plot turned into thriving garden at heart of Springs estate (Sep 2019) Fast Company (US) - Doctors are now prescribing houseplants to help treat anxiety and depression (Sep 2019) Manchester Evening News - Plants and herbs are being prescribed to patients suffering from anxiety, depression and loneliness at a GP surgery (Aug 2019) Manchester Wire - Free fixings: A Repair Café coming to Moss Side (May 2019) Rochdale News - How getting in touch with nature is helping young people to thrive (Dec 2018) Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust - Green-fingered gardeners sow the seeds of success at North Manchester General Hospital (Sep 2018) Bury Times - Red Door celebrates new growing space for Bury's homeless (Jul 2018)

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Sow the City is a CIC registered in England company no. 6872177