Community Gardens (RHS)

Overview

What are they looking for?

If your local area has a space that can be transformed into a community garden supported by the RHS, this could be a fantastic opportunity for you. they’re looking for projects that will bring people together to build, maintain or use the garden, and will be prioritising projects that:

• Clearly articulate the wellbeing or environmental benefits that the garden development project will bring
• Demonstrate inclusivity by involving a diverse range of groups and individuals that are representative of your local area
• Build ongoing connections between the people involved in the project, beyond the initial build of the garden
• Raise awareness of the importance of plants and gardening for the benefit of everyone in your community
• Employ appropriate environmental practices in keeping with our Planet-Friendly Gardening Campaign

Who can apply?

Eligibility criteria:

• This opportunity is open to community groups, and schools registered with the relevant Government Departments of Education, based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
• Local authorities may apply on behalf of a community group they are involved in – e.g. a Britain in Bloom group
• Schools with a high percentage of free school meals will be prioritised

Unfortunately, they are not able to accept applications from groups or schools in the Channel Islands

About the space:

• The proposed build site should be a maximum of 250m2
• The site should currently be either grass or bare soil
• Public access should be reasonable. Occasional open days would not be suitable, but if public access is regularly available e.g. on weekends, this would be considered. In a school setting, wider public access is not essential for the application
• The site and garden must remain accessible to those who may benefit from the garden for at least five years from March 2022
• The applicant must have the resources to maintain the garden for at least five years. Please note, the RHS will provide some support, if required, for the first three years. The garden will be designed to be low maintenance. No new planting should be required in the first 3-4 years. Maintenance will mainly include watering, weeding, removal of dead material and re-mulching where required
• The main garden build will take place from March to June 2022, with permission from the owners and managers of the land in place from the outset

What does the funding cover?

Funding for a Community Garden supported by the RHS includes the following:

• Material costs and build including hard landscaping and plants, design and project management up to the value of £50,000 for each garden
• A contribution of up to £5,000 per year for each garden, towards maintenance costs for three years
• Funding up to £1,000 to support a member of your group or school to gain an RHS Level 2 qualification and build their skills