Matched funding toward Lancaster Youth Hub, working alongside young people to co-design a space of beauty (360G-zing-125)

Grow to Know was born from the resilience and creativity of the North Kensington community in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed the lives of 72 people in 2017. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the community turned to gardening as a way to heal, reclaim space, and connect with nature. Led by founder Tayshan Hayden-Smith, dubbed the Grenfell Guerrilla Gardener, the initiative began under the motorway at Maxilla, where the seeds of change were planted. Established as a not-for-profit during the pandemic, Grow to Know is partly inspired by the legacy of Tayshan’s mother, Nancy, whose love for nature and enduring kindness shaped its mission. The organisation aims to close the “Green Gap” by addressing inequities in access to nature within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and beyond, contrasting the lush landscapes of prestigious garden shows with the reality of limited green spaces for many communities. Grow to Know creates opportunities for people of all backgrounds to connect with nature, fostering healing, empowerment, and social cohesion through gardening and community-led projects. Their work highlights the transformative power of nature in building resilience and creating sustainable, inclusive spaces for growth and renewal. Grow to Know has transformed spaces in partnership with the community, including bringing the story of Peter Rabbit to life at St. James Primary School in North Kensington, and multiple Chelsea Flower Show gardens, highlighting social injustices and inqualiities, including "Hands Off Mangrove" in 2022, and "Close the Green Gap" in 2023. In 2024, they opened the community garden "Life Under the Westway - Maxilla Gardens". This grant is matched funding toward the Lancaster Youth Hub - "working alongside local young people to co-design, shape, and bring to life a lasting space of beauty, opportunity, and connection at one of only a few youth clubs in North Kensington, and the surrounding area."