Grants and Awards from Lincolnshire Gardens Trust

Every year, we award small grants to schools and colleges across Lincolnshire to help pupils grow, tend, and understand plants, whether that's a vegetable bed, a wildlife garden, or a bee-friendly corner of the school grounds.

The Chairman’s Letter – Grants for Schools

Boston West Academy

The Lincolnshire Garden’s Trust’s (LGT) Memorandum and Articles of Association (item 5-point v (1995)) declare the following:

To promote the use of school grounds and gardens as an educational resource and to encourage interest in garden land by

means of school grounds improvement schemes and awards; 

To comply with this element of the Articles, the LGT invites applications from Lincolnshire’s schools for a small grant to support a garden project within school grounds. The grant is worth £300, and the Trust offers three yearly grants. 

The LGT recognises the disconnect between young people and their food consumption, and a grant can enable pupils to understand how their food is produced. Growing vegetables and creating herb beds will help pupils to understand food production. 

Similarly, planting bee-friendly areas on school grounds demonstrates how insect pollinators need a green oasis within the built environment to feed on and thrive.

Growing and tending plants engenders nurturing and can benefit mental health and well-being. Looking after a garden also helps develop physical mobility and general good health.

Although the Trust may seem focused on preserving and conserving the past, the LGT acknowledges the importance of getting young people to interact with their environment. School grounds are fundamental to this ideal and provide a safe space for this to happen.

The Trust welcomes grant applications from schools and colleges. 

Each round of applications will be considered during a calendar year and assessed at the three Committee meetings which take place in January, May and September. Applicants will be informed immediately after each Committee meeting.

Frequently asked questions about our grants and awards

At Lincolnshire Gardens Trust, we believe in nurturing a passion for gardens and history. Our grants and awards are a testament to our commitment to education and community engagement. We aim to support impactful projects that resonate with our mission to preserve and celebrate historic gardens and landscapes.

Who can apply for these grants and awards?

Grants are available for schools and educational settings. We also run competition awards for entries in conjunction with Lincolnshire Life Magazine, with various categories. Prize awards are issued at our November AGM, and images of winning entries are published in the magazine.

What do you hope to achieve by giving out these grants and awards?

We aim to enable schools and educational settings to support their own curriculum and enhance the knowledge and passion for horticulture in their students. Our goal is to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for gardens and the natural world.

What sort of things do you look for in a really good application?

We seek projects that demonstrate a longevity of impact. We look for specific projects and ideas that will be genuinely enhanced by our support, considering how many children will benefit from the grant. We also assess who will deliver the programme within the educational setting and how they can guarantee effective delivery, with a focus on sustainability and lifelong learning and passion for horticulture.

Once someone has applied, what is the next step?

Depending on the time of year, applications will be reviewed by the trustees and the committee. The committee meets three times a year. This is around January, May and September. The best time to apply for the following academic year would be around Easter.

        Kirkby on Bain 

Welton Primary

Cultivating future generations through horticulture.

Join us in our mission to inspire and educate. Your project could be the next success story in fostering a deeper connection with our natural and historic landscapes. Discover how our grants and awards can bring your horticultural ambitions to life. Complete the application form and then return to us at info@lincolnshiregardenstrust.co.uk