Grant Directories

A total of £1 million is available to support community groups and schools in deprived areas of the UK to protect and restore nature in their local area. The Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund is a crowdfunding initiative that will give £2 for every £1 raised by each project. A wide range of nature projects can be supported. This can include restoring and protecting local habitats, promoting pro-environmental behaviours at the community level and connecting local communities to nature and each other. Applications can be made at any time until all funding has been allocated.

The Swire Charitable Trust makes grants to charities supporting some of the UK’s most vulnerable people to overcome barriers and realise their potential, and to charities who are protecting the  environment and heritage.

The Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF) was first developed in response to the Government’s commitment to provide £10 million for planting both large and small trees in and around England’s towns and cities. The fund is part of the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund and aims to support the planting of 44,000 large ‘standard’ trees over a two-year period. Urban and peri-urban planting will require public access unless there is a strong rationale against this, such as planting on school grounds.  The funding can be used both for planting and maintaining trees.

The Greater London Authority distributes grants to support communities and civil society organisations. Through the Grow Back Greener Fund, the Authority provides grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 for projects across the capital that will make the city greener and more accessible to the local community, particularly those from disadvantaged or underrepresented groups such as BAME, lower income Londoners, and over-65. The Fund also aims to tackle climate change, to help reduce local flood risk, keep the city cool and provide shade, as well as providing habitat for wildlife, improving air quality, and storing carbon.

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust was established in for the advancement of the arts, health and medical welfare and environmental protection or improvement.   Through the Environment programme the Trust aims to protect the countryside, species and habitats as well as well as the UKs heritage and rural crafts and skills.

Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are available to schools, charities and other organisations in London to improve access to green spaces and nature. This could include creating a community garden, improving parks and other green spaces for people and wildlife; greening school playgrounds to create natural play space and protect children from air pollution; and creating pocket parks in urban areas; etc. 

The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA) is a long established Charity that over the years has played a vital role in the preservation and improvement of gardens, neglected sites and green open spaces across London. The MPGA provides modest grants to those who want to improve the environment and quality of life for the local community. The MPGA works with a wide variety of groups, including local councils, schools, hospitals, hospices, museums, voluntary organizations and community groups on a range of projects. Example projects supported include: The Drop-in Bereavement Centre in the London Borough of Newham granted £500 to create a meditative garden; Christ Church School, Wandsworth, granted £359 for an outdoor gardening classroom.

Under this scheme, Biffa look to award grants to projects that provide or improve biodiversity, community spaces, cultural facilities, and places for outdoor recreation. The type of activities that could be funded could be to improve community buildings; site-based projects to protect and enhance a species or habitat; improving an open space such as a park, play area or woodland that needs transforming to benefit local people of all ages.  Between £10,000 and £75,000 is available for projects of less than £200,000. Ten percent of the award needs to be third party sourced.

The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA) is a long established Charity which over the years has played a vital role in the preservation and improvement of countless gardens, neglected sites and green open spaces across London. The MPGA gives modest grants and practical assistance to organisations such as schools, hospices and community groups who share the desire to improve the environment and the quality of life for the local community and require funding towards improvement of neglected sites and refurbishment of gardens; including landscaping, seating and planting.

Artists Project Earth (APE) funds projects that tackle the effects of climate change.  Applications are welcomed from organisations working to prevent the causes of climate change; defend communities and ecosystems against the impacts of climate change; and support and build resilience for communities affected by natural disasters.

The Chestnut Fund is an independent charity, making grants available to encourage and enable community groups to carry out conservation activities. Groups must be part of the BTCV Community Network to qualify. The grants fall into two categories: Start-up grants - these are for groups who have no money when they are first set up and are available to groups in their first year of existence. The grant will enable them to begin practical work and will cover administrative expenses, e.g. postage, publicity, hire of meeting rooms, telephone bills and/or the first year of BTCV Community Network Membership plus Insurance fees. The maximum grant will be £150, and Support grants - these are for groups who have no money for tools, equipment and training. The maximum grant will be £350. Preference will be given to resources selected from BTCV sources. This grant is available to all BTCV Community Network groups, regardless of how long they have been members.

The John Ellerman Foundation's People and Planet funding scheme provides grants to charities that work to promote a healthier environment for both people and nature.  The scheme prioritises projects that enhance ocean health through stronger marine protected areas and on land and in freshwater through sustainable management, habitat restoration, and landscape-scale conservation.  The scheme also aims to address the impact of human activities like climate change and pollution on air, land, and water.