A number of bodies, including your local county council, can be approached for information and funding. Large horticultural organisations and seed companies also have an educational remit and will often supply goods free of charge.
Grants and awards
Barclaycard’s “LivingLand Award” with Young People’s Trust for the Environment is a competition for groups of children aged eight to 13. Cash prizes include an environmental school trip worth up to pound;40,000
www.yptenc.org.uk Email: info@yptenc.org.uk
Blake Shield BNA Trust promotes conservation projects - www.blakeshield.org Email: info@blakeshield.org
BTCV’s “People’s Places Award Scheme” for school sites that are accessible to the local community
www.btcv.orgppawards
The Dorset Gardens Trust has allocated pound;5,000 to help schools in Dorset develop their gardens. Details from Sylvia Bryan, liaison officer, Dorset Gardens Trust Tel: 01935 872232
“Eco Schools” and associated awards
www.eco-schools.org.uk
The “Living for the Future Millennium Awards Scheme” is for environmental projects that benefit the school or community. It’s open to 16 to 23-year-olds living in Surrey, Sussex or Hampshire
Email: awards@yptenc.org.uk
www.livingforthefuture.org.uk
New Opportunities Fund provides funding for projects that involve the community and are run in out-of-school-hours clubs. Projects can involve recycling or wildlife, or an environmental garden
Email: general.enquiries@nof.org.uk
www.nof.org.uk
The Royal Society “Partnership Grants” links schools with working scientists
www.royalsoc.ac.ukeducation
Email: kirsty.brown@royalsoc.ac.uk
The Three Counties Agricultural Society’s “Design a Garden” competition is open to secondary schools in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The first prize is pound;7,500 and the winning garden will be recreated at The Malvern Spring Gardening Show. The closing date is January 31, 2003
www.threecounties.co.uk
The “Shell Better Britain Campaign” for gardens that are accessible to the community
www.sbbc.co.uk
For details of how to apply for “Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardens for Schools” 2003 round of grants
www.alantitchmarsh.comindex.asp
The “Woodland Grant Scheme” is run by the Forestry Commission and encourages the creation and management of woodland by helping with the cost of the work www.Forestry.gov.uk
The “Yellow Pages Directory Recycling Scheme” exchanges money for returned old directories. Contact your local council for details
Email: yellow.woods@yellgroup.com
Further information
Learning through Landscapes’ School Grounds UK produces an information sheet on funding for members. “Capital Grounds” is a two-year programme run by Learning through Landscapes in London, investigating education for sustainable development. The programme is open to all schools in Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Lambeth and Wandsworth www.ltl.org.uk
The BBC’s new “Gardening with Children” website offers projects for home and school, as well as plant suggestions and advice
www.bbc.co.ukgardeningchildren
The Schools’ Resource Pack providing details of how to make and use the features in Growing Schools Garden (TES, July 19 to August 30) is available online
www.schoolsgarden.org.uk
Compiled by Jacky Chave, senior education officer at The Royal Horticultural Society
www.rhs.org.uk
