National Garden Scheme opens applications for 2025 Community Garden Grants
The National Garden Scheme will open applications for its Community Garden Grants programme for seven weeks from Monday 9th September to Monday 28th October.
These hugely popular grants provide funding to amateur gardeners from community groups in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands to create or complete a garden or similar project (such as an allotment) that has a horticultural focus for the benefit of the local community or charitable group. The aim should be to bring a community together by creating or developing a space that people can share, by the acquisition and sharing of gardening knowledge and skills, and by inspiring a love of gardening.
In 2024, 89 community garden projects were funded with grants totalling £232,000 supporting community gardens and allotments, rehabilitation and regeneration projects, gardens designed to support mental health and wellbeing, as well as training and development for young people.
“We welcome applications for projects that foster diversity and/or support people with physical or mental disability. With all applications considered on their individual merits, there is no fixed amount, but awards are between £1,000 and £5,000,” says National Garden Scheme Chief Executive, George Plumptre.
National Garden Scheme ambassador, TV presenter and gardener aka The Black Gardener, Danny Clarke says: “We want to see this funding going to the heart of communities, supporting projects that engage and invigorate diverse audiences, many of whom will discover for the first time the huge benefits that gardens and gardening bring to their health, wellbeing and to the surrounding environment. The icing on the cake will be that recipient gardens one day open for the National Garden Scheme themselves.”
Submissions close at noon on Monday 28th October and applicants will be notified of the results by the end of March 2025.
For more details and an application form visit:
Case studies: Read the inspiring stories of three previous grant winners by following the links below:
- Gateway Community Garden, Surrey CLICK HERE
- Belgrave Community Garden, Leicestershire CLICK HERE
- St Peters Community Wellbeing Projects in Bethnal Green, London CLICK HERE
