Aims/priorities: The Community Gardens Grants scheme was set up in 2011 by the National Garden Scheme and managed in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society. From 2019 the Award became wholly managed by the National Garden Scheme. In November 2024, the Julia Rausing Trust announce a £1.5 million grant to the National Garden Scheme for the Community Garden Grants programme.
The Award was set up in memory of Elspeth Thompson, a garden writer and journalist and supporter of the National Garden Scheme who died in 2010.
The funding is for gardening projects carried out within local communities in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The scheme is committed to:
- Sustainability in gardening so proposals need to demonstrate that they will be using sustainable gardening methods – for instance being as far as possible peat-free.
Celebrating biodiversity so projects that encourage biodiversity and wildlife, while not essential, will be a positive.
Who can apply: Applicants must be a fully set up community group, registered charity or Community Interest Company (CIC) with a functioning non-personal bank account.
Grant amount: Grants of between £1,500 and £5,000 are available.
Application process: Applications will be taken online from the Tuesday, 29 September here: https://ngs.org.uk/who-we-are/community-garden-grants/
Deadline: Friday, 30 October 2026
Contact: vince.hagan@ngs.org.uk
Website: https://ngs.org.uk/