Community Garden Grants 2025

April 2025

The National Garden Scheme announces nearly £300,000 in funding for 117 community garden projects across England, Wales and Northern Ireland 

To mark Community Gardens Week (April 7-14) the National Garden Scheme is delighted to announce the distribution of £294,260 of funding to 117 community garden projects across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

Commenting on the funding, Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme, George Plumptre said: “This is the first year of our Community Garden Grant funding supported by the Julia Rausing Trust and we’re proud to be providing even more of a helping hand to thousands of people across the UK as they work to create and develop community gardens.” 

“Many of the applications we received centred on the growing of food for communities and those helping others to learn to grow food. Many cited the benefits to the physical and mental wellbeing of their local community and the dozens support children and people with dementia.  Applications also came from a broad spectrum of society, including a number from ethnic minorities.  

“Community gardens give people a sense of purpose and hope, so it is easy to see why people get involved. We are delighted to provide ongoing support to so many inspirational projects.”

Danny Clarke – aka The Black Gardener – and National Garden Scheme Ambassador added: “Participating in an allotment or community garden can give meaningful social connections which help to reduce loneliness and isolation. I have noticed how these spaces can bring people of all generations, cultures and backgrounds together, to happily share knowledge and traditions. It’s wonderful to see the continuing generosity of the National Garden Scheme Community Garden Grants which are helping to fund these amazing spaces across the country and contributing so positively to social cohesion.” 

From social welfare and gardening projects that help the isolated, the disabled and the disenfranchised to support for community orchards, food banks and social prescribing projects at GP surgeries, the funding provides a much-needed boost to those working on or initiating community garden projects throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

Lead Image: In early 2024 The Fathom Trust received a National Garden Scheme Community Garden Grant to create an apothecary garden so they could expand upon the social and therapeutic gardening activities already taking place at their hub in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) copyright Fathom Trust

Giving that gives back

Many of the funded community projects in turn open for the National Garden Scheme completing a virtuous circle of giving and giving back.  

Examples include: 

Pakistan Association Liverpool Wellbeing Garden – developed during 2022 to create a beautiful, inspirational space for the members to enjoy, grow vegetables, herbs and flowers the garden received a £4,900 Community Garden Grant. “Our aim was to create a beautiful space whilst growing plants that benefit health and wellbeing.” The garden has been made from mainly recycled materials and plants, including bricks from the mosque floor and donated plants. Opens as part of the Canning and Toxteth Gardens, Liverpool on Sunday 22 June. For details see: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/44915/pakistan-association-liverpool-wellbeing-garden  

Stream Walk Community Garden – opens as part of the Whitstable Town Gardens in Kent and received a Community Garden Grant in 2022. Founded in 2017 this evolving community garden is at the heart of the local community as a resource for everyone, existing to promote the mental and physical health and wellbeing of all through activities which include building skills and knowledge in sustainable food growing, a love of biodiversity and the natural environment. The garden opens with the group on Sunday 15 June – for details see: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/43346/whitstable-town-gardens  

Rhubarb Farm, Nottinghamshire – a 2-acre horticultural social enterprise that provides training and volunteering opportunities to 60 ex-offenders, drug and alcohol misusers, older people, school students, people with mental and physical ill health and learning disabilities. The project received a grant for £1,352 and now opens its gates through the National Garden Scheme on dates in June, July and August. For details see: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/32316/rhubarb-farm  

Ponthafren, Montgomeryshire is a registered charity that provides a caring community to promote positive mental health and wellbeing for all. Open door policy so everyone is welcome. The charity received a grant of £2,612 from the National Garden Scheme for raised beds and a polytunnel and water butts for grey watering. The venue now opens for the Scheme on 12 and 13 July and by Arrangement. For details see:  https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/33091/ponthafren  

TWIGS Community Garden, Wiltshire provides a therapeutic environment in which people experiencing mental health issues can gain new skills and confidence through activities that include gardening, conservation and crafts. They received a grant for £3,887 to design and build a new garden space that all people struggling with their mental health can focus on the positive benefits of growing and tending plants. This garden will also be used to work with people experiencing grief and depression resulting from bereavement issues. The garden opens for the Scheme in 2025 on 18 May and 20 July. For details see: https://findagarden.ngs.org.uk/garden/25148/twigs-community-garden 

Distribution of funds

Funding will be distributed in April 2025 with project updates expected mid-year with completion in 2026. The 2026 Community Gardens Award application process will begin in the autumn with full details available on the National Garden Scheme website at: Community Garden Grants – National Garden Scheme (ngs.org.uk)  

More about National Garden Scheme funding and Gardens and Health programme 

In addition to the National Garden Scheme’s annual donations to nursing and health charities, the charity has been funding community gardening projects since 2011 when the awards were set up in memory of Elspeth Thompson, the much-loved garden writer and journalist who died in 2010. Elspeth was a great friend and supporter of the National Garden Scheme; she also wrote an admired ‘Urban Gardener’ column in the Sunday Telegraph that often celebrated community gardens. The programme honours Elspeth’s memory and supports the community gardens she loved. 

Since the Community Garden Grants began, £1,202,360 has been donated to over 500 community projects. 

The Community Garden Grants (CGG) form part of the wider National Garden Scheme’s Gardens and Health programme which in 2024 saw the total funding for Gardens and Health projects exceed £3 million. It is a milestone on which the charity intends to build in the coming years, not only funding more garden projects in healthcare settings but also in the community for the benefit of individuals and diverse groups, enabling more people to have access to gardens and to discover the benefits they will find there. To discover more about the Gardens and Health programme, including recent funding for nurse-led community garden projects in partnership with our founder and beneficiary the Queens Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) and the projects it supports visit https://ngs.org.uk/gardens-and-health-week/   

Find out more about projects on Instagram at: The National Garden Scheme (@ngscommunitygardens) • Instagram photos and videos

Find out who received a grant in 2025