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The Blodeuwedd Project

Sowing and selling nature-loving plants in the the north of Wales, and donating the proceeds to community-environmental projects abroad.

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In 2021, after a life of loving and learning about gardening, nature and the environment, I decided to sow my first plants from seeds. The plant: Amaranthus (‘Love Lies Bleeding’). It was stunning: a bushy and tall plant with large leaves, and a cascading crimson tassel-like flowers. Safe to say, I didn’t realise just how many seeds I had sown in my mam’s little greenhouse (diolch, Ma). After a few weeks and a lot of thinning out, I had over 400 of the things. Even if I had started sharing them amongst family and friends, I’d still have hundreds left.

Then it hit me – I could actually do something good with them. Whilst I had been struck by the long tassel-like flowers, I also loved the added benefit of the birds enjoying the seeds the plants produced, giving this plant a bonus for our nature and environment. And having been working with Tanzanian non-profits, I had somewhat of a lightbulb moment. By selling the plants, I could raise money for another environmental project in Tanzania, linking one country with another.

 

Fruit Trees Planted
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School Gardens Created
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Thus the Blodeuwedd project (Y Prosiect Blodeuwedd) was born. Each year, whether from seeds, cutting, or rescued and revived plants from the ‘infirmary’ of garden centres, I grow and sell plants, most of which will have a benefit for our nature. By selling the plants, they’re distributed and planted across northern Wales – making our land beautiful, our nature grateful, and the added bonus of people enjoying their garden and maybe thinking about the environment and what they’re putting in their gardens. Then the money that is raised goes to projects that help the environment and community in rural Tanzania – such as creating school gardens in impoverished areas where the environment is struggling. For example, through this project, we have planted thousands of fruit trees that help the land and environment, and also feed hungry students at school.

It’s just a little something to help our nature and environment, reaching across nearly 7,000 miles.