Clarion secures over £66,000 from Veolia to create sustainable plant nursery supporting London estates
Clarion Housing Group has been awarded £66,700 from Veolia’s Environmental Trust Fund to create a new sustainable plant nursery that will help boost skills, support resident involvement and reduce the environmental impact of estate improvements across London.
The investment, secured through Clarion’s charitable foundation, Clarion Futures, will see a former garage site in Bow transformed into a fully equipped plant production hub.
The site will include a potting shed for sowing seeds and preparing cuttings, a greenhouse to protect young plants, and raised beds for growing plants before they are placed across Clarion’s estates.
The nursery will also produce new plants by reusing cuttings and seeds from Clarion’s existing estates, while using captured rainwater for irrigation, and growing plants in soil rather than imported compost. This will reduce waste, cut carbon, and ensure planting takes place when estates and conditions are ready to help make the process both greener and more efficient.
Residents and apprentices will also benefit from hands-on training opportunities, volunteering programmes, and the chance to gain confidence and new skills. This work builds on the wider support provided by Clarion Futures, providing residents with access to training and opportunities that help them play an active role in shaping their communities.
The project embodies the ambitions set out in Clarion’s new Five New Giants of Opportunity report. By giving residents, apprentices and volunteers a shared space to grow plants, learn new skills and work together to improve their neighbourhoods, the nursery will strengthen community ties and support a more sustainable, self-sufficient approach to estate management.
The Veolia Environmental Trust awards grants to projects that improve community facilities and enhance the natural environment. Its funding programme supports organisations working to create more sustainable, accessible and environmentally friendly spaces. Applicants follow a structured three-stage process to assess eligibility and develop proposals, ensuring that funded projects deliver clear benefits for local communities.
Rob Lane, Chief Property Officer at Clarion Housing Group, said:
“Thanks to Veolia’s generous £66,700 grant, we’re now able to create a dedicated plant nursery that will directly benefit our London communities for years to come. This nursery isn’t just about growing plants but also growing skills, confidence and connection.
“The project reflects the priorities set out in our Five Giants of Opportunity report, particularly the importance of connection and sustainability, and will help us continue investing in our residents, our estates and the long-term health of our communities.”
Andrew Brown, Executive Director at Veolia Environmental Trust, added:
“We’re very proud to be supporting Clarion through the Veolia Environmental Trust to bring their new plant nursery to life. These opportunities are exactly the sort of schemes that the Trust was set up to help support across the UK, delivering meaningful environmental and social impact to local areas.
“By transforming an underused space into a productive, sustainable nursery, Clarion is creating a resource that benefits people and the planet and we’re proud to be working together to help strengthen local communities and support greener, more resilient neighbourhoods across London. We look forward to bringing more positive impact to other projects in the near future.”
This new nursery builds on the wider programme of work delivered during Clarion’s 125th year to strengthen skills, improve green spaces and deepen resident involvement.
From a Gardening Boot Camp which offered practical horticulture training and pathways into grounds maintenance, to initiatives helping residents’ plant and care for the right tree in the right place, the nursery is the next step in Clarion’s commitment to creating and maintaining greener, healthier communities.