The National Garden Scheme Community Gardens Awards 2024

The National Garden Scheme Community Gardens Awards generally provides grants of up to £5,000 (although the majority of grant awards are for under £2,000) for the creation of a community garden or a community park or allotment with a horticultural focus for the benefit of the local community. While matched funding is not a specific requirement, applicants will be expected to state whether they have sought and secured funding from other sources towards their project.

Projects should aim to bring a community together by creating a space people can be part of by the acquisition and sharing of gardening knowledge and skills and by inspiring a love of gardening.

Applications must relate to an existing or proposed community garden or similar site. There must be no query over access to the space (such as restrictions imposed by ownership by another body).

Amateur gardeners in community groups in England and Wales may apply for a grant. Applicants must be a fully set up community group or Community Interest Company (CIC) with a functioning non-personal bank account.

Although there is no minimum of maximum grant award level, grants tend to start at £500 and rarely exceed £5,000. Awards are usually for £2,000 or less.

In 2023, the National Garden Scheme announced £232,000 in funding for 89 community garden projects across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Details of previous awards can be viewed on the National Garden Scheme website.

Grants can be used for such items as (please note this is not an exclusive list):

•  Equipment hire.
• Plants and shrubs.
• Pots and containers.
• Seating/benches.
• Tools, and
• Trees.