Grant News

The Linnean Society of London has opened applications for its Our Local Nature Grant Scheme, offering young people across the UK the chance to lead projects that connect their communities with the natural world.

The scheme, now in its sixth year, provides awards of up to £1,000. Funding can support costs such as materials, room hire, publicity, guest speakers, training, transport and project-specific staff.

Applications must be made by individuals or organisations linked to groups of young people, usually aged 16 or under, with proposals expected to be shaped and led by the young people themselves. This includes, but is not limited to, school staff, student groups, home education groups, community groups and small charities.

Projects should promote biodiversity awareness or improve access to local green spaces, with past examples ranging from school festivals and biodiversity murals to community gardens and guided nature walks.

Applications open in September and close in October 2025, with decisions announced in December. Successful projects will begin in January 2026 and conclude by June.

Previous projects supported include:

• The Mellish Sports Centre (Nottingham) received £1,000 to transform its outdoor space into a natural woodland garden. They installed bird, bat, and bee boxes, along with features like “crows’ nests,” foxes, hedgehogs, and visiting jays.
• The Rosliston Community Centre (Staffordshire), which was awarded £1,000, to train young people in dragonfly surveying. Participants learned to identify and protect native species and contributed case studies to the National Forest Company.
• The Upton Westlea Primary School, which received a grant of £1,000 to renovate a wildlife area, added bird feeders, bug hotels, and planted berries, vegetables, and wildflowers.

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