The National Garden Scheme (NGS) has re-opened applications for its popular Community Gardens Award programme.

In 2020, 44 grants totalling over £97,000 were awarded supporting community allotments and gardens, rehabilitation, and regeneration projects, as well as gardens designed to support mental health and wellbeing, and training and development for young people.

Chief Executive of NGS, George Plumptre, said: “We welcome applications for projects that foster diversity and/or support people with physical or mental disability. With all applications considered on their individual merits, there is no fixed amount, but awards do not usually exceed £5,000,”

Projects that have benefitted from a Community Gardens Award include Antur Aelhaeam in Gwynedd which promotes a sense of community in the village of Llanaelhaearn and the associated district, designed to halt and reverse the trend towards depopulation.

The garden project aims to create a bridge between the generations, to lessen the stigma of living with dementia and to promote better understanding of the condition. An award of £2,575 funded a potting shed and greenhouse along with lots of tools and materials.

Submissions close on Monday, February 28 2022 and applicants will be notified of the results in April 2022.

For more details and informtaion about applications visit ngs.org.uk/cga-application