Application for Community Gardens Award now open

In addition to its annual donations to nursing and health charities, the National Garden Scheme grants awards to help community gardening projects.

In 2011 the National Garden Scheme set up an award scheme in memory of Elspeth Thompson, the garden writer and journalist who died in 2010. Previously managed in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society, from 2019 the Community Gardens Award scheme will be wholly managed by the National Garden Scheme. To date awards have been given to 59 projects with a total amount donated of £112,174.

It provides funding to amateur gardeners from community groups in England and Wales to create a garden or similar project, such as an allotment, with horticultural focus for the benefit of their local community.

In 2019 projects funded included the enhancement of grounds around sheltered accommodation at the Court Community Garden in Llandrindrod Wells, support to renovate a dilapidated allotment site in Nottingham, the creation of a sensory garden in York for women experiencing loneliness or in crisis and funding for the Therapy Garden in Guildford for adults and children with mental health challenges.

The closing date for applications is 31 December.

You can find out more on the National Garden Scheme website