Coin Street eco-garden to receive funds from Tesco plastic bag levy

Bags of Help gives grants of up to £12,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – to environmental and green space projects.

Exactly how much funding the family and children's centre receives will be decided by shoppers voting for their favourite project at branches of Tesco in the borough of Lambeth.

The Bags of Help funding will allow the children's centre in Stamford Street to transform its existing outdoor space into a bio diverse green space for children using the centre.

As well as 'greening up' the space and creating natural shade and protection from the wind, the project will introduce natural play elements including a 'mud kitchen', a mini-greenhouse as well as a worm farm and habitats for insects.

"The new outdoor space will increase the range of experiences for children in our area and provide them with the opportunity to explore the natural environment," said Deborah Kukathas, deputy head of early years at Coin Street family and children's centre.

"We support children from a diverse range of backgrounds, some with special needs. The new space will provide experiences for them not available to them elsewhere. Please vote for us!"

The Bags of Help initiative is a collaboration between Tesco and the community charity Groundwork.

The Coin Street project is competing with the London Wildlife Trust who are proposing a rain wildlife-friendly gardening in Herne Hill, and Cowley Resident Management Organisation who want to create a multi-sports area.

Voting is open until Sunday 13 November; you can vote for Coin Street at any Tesco store in the borough of Lambeth, including Tesco Express Baylis Road and Tesco Express Waterloo Road.