Gardens for Children Grants

Why Gardens Matter for Children

Gardening gives children the chance to dig, plant seeds, watch insects and move around freely. These activities encourage physical activity and can support mental wellbeing.

For schools, nurseries and community groups, a garden lets children spend time outdoors as part of their normal routine rather than on an occasional trip. It also teaches them where food comes from, how plants grow and how to look after a shared space.

Not every child has a garden at home. Community gardens can give families a shared outdoor space to play, grow food and meet others.

Seeds, tools, raised beds, fencing, water butts, paths and upkeep all cost money. The routes below generally support organisations such as schools, nurseries, charities and community groups. They do not fund parents looking for money for a private family garden. Schemes open and close, so check each funder's website for current criteria, deadlines and award amounts.

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Tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application.

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Support for School and Nursery Gardens

Some schemes provide only equipment or materials, while others can fund project delivery and running costs. Check which costs each funder allows.

• The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) offers teaching resources, planning guides and advice on school gardening. This is practical support, not a cash grant. Check the RHS website for current registration arrangements and any awards.
• The Woodland Trust offers free tree packs to schools and community groups. These are trees rather than cash, and applicants need suitable planting space and must meet the scheme's requirements.
• Tesco's Stronger Starts scheme focuses on projects that benefit children and young people. Other supermarkets run community schemes with different priorities and selection methods, so check whether schools can apply directly and which costs are covered.
• Local businesses, garden centres and builders' merchants may donate tools, compost or timber.
• Parent teacher associations can raise money for specific items such as raised beds or a polytunnel.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Funding and Support for Community Groups

Community groups and charities can apply to a range of funds, although eligibility depends on their legal structure and the activities proposed.

Potential grant funders include:

• The National Lottery Community Fund, whose Awards for All small grants run as separate programmes for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, each with its own terms
• The Postcode Trusts, which distribute funding raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery; find the trust covering your area, as priorities and application windows differ
• Your local council, which may offer community grants, ward budgets or help with using council land
• Local community foundations, which manage grants from a range of donors for projects in their area

For advice and practical support, Social Farms & Gardens offers training and information on funding for community growing. Groundwork helps communities improve green spaces and sometimes administers local grant programmes for other funders.

Some funders only accept applications from registered charities or constituted groups. An informal group may need a constitution, a group bank account and an agreed management structure. Being constituted does not mean you must register as a charity. If you intend to, check the relevant regulator: the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR in Scotland or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

Preparing a Strong Application

Explain who will use the garden, what activities will take place and how you will measure the benefits. Before you apply, it helps to have:

• A project description shaped by consultation with children, families and staff
• A realistic budget with quotes for the main items
• A lease, licence or written permission covering the site for the life of the project
• Any planning or other consents needed for polytunnels, sheds, fencing or larger works, since landowner permission may not cover everything
• Arrangements for supervision, risk assessment and safeguarding; whether volunteers need DBS checks, or the Scottish or Northern Irish equivalents, depends on their role
• Accessible paths and raised beds that children with disabilities or additional needs can use
• A plan for insurance, water access, tool storage, replacement costs and care during school holidays

Read the guidance notes carefully. Many funders will not pay for items already bought or work already started, and some cap the amount you can request. Expect to report on progress and keep receipts, and get the right permissions before sharing photographs of children.

Funders want to know the garden will continue after the grant ends. Volunteer commitments and letters of support from local partners help show this.

If an application is turned down, ask for feedback. The round may simply have been oversubscribed. You can try again if the funder's rules allow, or approach a different funder with a revised bid.

Many projects combine several smaller grants and donations. Declare other funding where asked, never claim the same cost twice, and note that some schemes require the whole project to be funded before work starts.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Grant Eligibility Finder lets you tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application. Try it now →