Opening to applications on Monday 16th October, with a deadline of Monday 13th November 2023, 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.

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

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

Funding is not available for:

o Education course fees or training cost.
o Hire of large mechanical tools (for example, a large shredder, JCB etc.).
o Insurances.
o Local authorities, including town and parish councils.
o Promotional costs (such as the production or printing of leaflets).
o Salaries or wages.
o Schools.
o Transport to visit gardens, or
o Volunteer expenses.

Further information, guidance and an online application form is available on the National Garden Scheme website.

The 2024 scheme opened on Monday 16th October 2023 with an application deadline of midday (12 noon) on Monday 13th November 2023.