The National Garden Scheme Community Gardens Award

In memory of Elspeth Thompson

In 2011 the National Garden Scheme set up an award scheme 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. Her column often celebrated community gardens and so the awards support gardening projects carried out within local communities all over England and Wales.

Previously managed in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society, from 2019 the scheme will be wholly managed by the National Garden Scheme. To date we have given out awards to 59 projects with a total amount donated of £112,174.

Applications for funding are considered in February each year and the closing date for applications is 31 December of the preceding year. Please download the application form and guidelines to submit your application.

2019 Awards

Here are the projects that received funds in 2019.