Grow 73 speak out at top eco festival
A green-fingered Rutherglen resident spoke up about the future of the planet at an eco event last week.
Eugenie Aroutcheff joined with the likes of David Attenborough, John Bishop and Ben Miller to speak at the Eden Project’s Festival of Discovery.
The event featured groups across the country who are doing their bit for the environment and to help the planet – including gardening group Grow 73 in the Royal Burgh, which Eugenie organises.
Over the years the local charity has been involved in a number of eco-friendly projects across the region, and are currently developing a community eco-garden at Overtoun Park.
Over the past six years they have also worked with local primary schools, helped brighten up Rutherglen train station with greenery and most recently created a 6.2km ‘Bee Line’ of small green pockets filled with nectar-rich plants.
Eugenie said: “Since starting our project six years ago, it’s grown arms and legs and taken us on a journey of discovery.
“I have met amazing people along the way which has given me hope the work we do matters.
“We are living in truly challenging times and the feeling of being powerless in front of the size of these challenges could make anyone feel hopeless.
“This is why grassroot
movements matter – they are palpable, powerful and change people’s habits.
“Partnership working is the way forward as we can have a much greater impact in our communities by working together.”
The Festival of Discovery ran from Thursday, November 11, until Saturday, November 13, and coincided with the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
Other events on the programme included Sir David Attenborough discussing how to save the natural world with renowned academic E. O. Wilson, actor and bestselling author Ben Miller sharing the inspiration for his magical children’s books, Gardeners’ Question Time with BBC One’s Mark
Lane and an uplifting dance work-out with influencer and personal trainer Tally Rye.
The Festival of Discovery is curated by the Eden Project Communities team, who are also responsible for the UK’s annual community celebration, The Big Lunch.
Tracey Robbins, head of UK delivery at Eden Project Communities, said last week: “We were absolutely thrilled to be inviting Eugenie to the Festival of Discovery.
“Here at Eden Project Communities, we know there are thousands of amazing people doing their bit to protect the planet by joining forces with their communities and seeing the amazing things that can happen when we work together.”