GrantRadarApplications closed on 16 October 2026.
Many funders run the same grant every year, so check the funder’s site for a new round. The details below are what the funder published when it was open.
The Gardens Trust
The Gardens Trust Community Grant
A seed-funding grant of up to £10,000 from the Gardens Trust, funded by the Gentian Trust, for volunteer groups running projects that support historic designed landscapes (historic gardens, parks, squares, estates and some cemeteries) anywhere in the UK. It favours pump-priming for sustainable activity, such as a restoration plan, Friends group set-up costs, research or volunteer training, and gives preference to smaller charities. Groups do not need to be registered charities. Applications are by emailed form by 16 October 2026.
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- The 29th May 1961 Charitable TrustThe 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust grantsAmount not specifiedRolling
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- Breckland District Council (Norfolk Warm Homes partnership)Warm Homes Fund (Norfolk Warm Homes)Amount not specifiedRolling
- You could get
- Up to £10,000
- Deadline
- Closed
- the deadline has passed
- Effort
- Moderate
- full application with documents
Who can apply
- Volunteer groups anywhere in the UK
- The group does not have to be a registered charity (the form lists examples such as registered charity, group of volunteers or CIC), but it must show it is an active group with a clear plan and make a convincing case that it is competent to manage the grant and project
- Preference is given to smaller charities, where a grant can have more significant impact
- The project must relate to a historic designed landscape, and the form asks how the site is open to the public and for evidence of the landowner's support where appropriate
- Previous awards or refusals do not affect eligibility to apply again
- No income limit is stated
What it funds
- Any activity relating to a historic designed landscape, garden or park (normally at least 30 years old, laid out with a conscious design - e.g. country estates, ornamental and kitchen gardens, public parks and town squares, botanic gardens, some institutional landscapes and cemeteries)
- The Trust looks for seed-funding or pump priming for a sustainable activity, for example a restoration plan, Friends group set-up costs, a research project or a volunteer training scheme, and encourages projects reflecting its priorities of conservation, sharing knowledge and inclusive participation and enjoyment
- Both capital and revenue projects are eligible, including staff costs and a reasonable share of overheads
Projects not yet begun are preferred (contributions to projects underway may be considered), with preference for projects substantially completed within 18 months of application.
What it will not fund
- Projects that have already been completed
- Sites that are not historic designed landscapes, gardens or parks
- Church grounds (not normally considered historic designed landscapes)
- Community gardens or school gardens, unless they sit within a historic designed landscape
- One-off events such as a summer fair are less well received than seed-funding for sustainable activity
How to apply
- Read the guidance and FAQs in the application form to check the site is a historic designed landscape
- Download the Application Form (Word document) from the grant page
- Complete the form: group details, finances (income, expenditure, reserves), project summary, the landscape and its public access, project plan, purpose, team, costs and evaluation
- Email the form and supporting documents to catherine.ford@thegardenstrust.org by Friday 16 October 2026
- The Trust acknowledges applications by email within two weeks and tells ineligible applicants by email
- Applicants are notified of the outcome around mid-December
- If funded, report on the use of the grant (a page of A4 is usually enough) within six months of the end of the project, annually if it runs over a year, and help with material for the Trust's publications
Questions can be emailed to catherine.ford@thegardenstrust.org.
Have ready
- Completed application form, signed
- Income and expenditure figures from the latest audited or examined accounts (or annual budget totals for small groups not required to produce accounts)
- Evidence of the landowner's support where appropriate (e.g. a letter)
Extra supporting information is optional, up to 3 sides of A4.