Downton Abbey Actor Hails New Right to Grow Initiative

Urges councils to follow Hounslow in community-led growing projects

Jim Carter with Cllr Salman Shaheen

March 9, 2026

Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter OBE has backed Hounslow Council’s new Go Forth and Grow for the Future policy, West London’s first formal Right to Grow initiative. The scheme opens up neglected and under-used pieces of public land for communities, schools and volunteer groups to grow food, plant gardens and bring forgotten spaces back into use.

Carter, who plays Carson the butler in the TV serious, is a patron of Greenfingers, the charity that creates therapeutic gardens for children’s hospices. He praised the council’s approach in a conversation with Cllr Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces. He urged other local authorities to follow Hounslow’s lead as one of the first councils in the country to open the door to community-led growing projects.

This is not the first time Carter has supported community and environmental initiatives in the borough. Over many years he has lent his voice and profile to local causes, often alongside his wife, actor Imelda Staunton. His long-standing involvement with Greenfingers has seen him champion the creation of sensory gardens and outdoor spaces for children receiving hospice care, helping to raise awareness and support for projects that connect people with nature.

Go Forth and Grow for the Future builds on the council’s earlier Grow for the Future programme, the UK’s first policy dedicated to turning derelict land into allotments, orchards and community gardens. That initiative has already transformed seven sites since 2024, supported by more than £200,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and endorsed by both central government and the Greater London Authority.

The new sister policy removes barriers for residents who want to take action themselves, allowing communities to adopt unused land without waiting for council-led redevelopment. Groups will receive a practical toolkit and guidance on funding opportunities, including through the council’s Thriving Communities Fund.

Several pilot projects were already underway before the policy was formalised. Community groups have cleared and planted an alleyway in Isleworth, transformed a fly-tipped patch of land near a railway bridge in Brentford, and begun planning a sensory garden on the Ivybridge estate. These early efforts show how quickly residents can reclaim and reimagine neglected corners of the borough when given the opportunity.

Carter described the initiative as imaginative and far-sighted, saying he looked forward to seeing the results. Cllr Shaheen said the pandemic had reminded everyone of the importance of green space for wellbeing, learning and community life. He noted that many residents living in flats do not have gardens of their own, while unused land often attracts fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. By cutting red tape, he said, the council hopes to allow residents to take ownership of their surroundings and help the whole borough flourish.