Finding funding
Below is a list of some of the charity, corporate and government schemes with relevant funding opportunities for biodiversity improvements and outdoor learning equipment.
Fundraising and grants
The Royal Horticultural Society are managing a grant fund on behalf of the Department for Education in line with the Nature Park programme. This fund is for a select list of eligible education settings and is not an open call.
For fundraising approaches see guidance from the Royal Horticultural Society, information on the Environmental Funders Network website and platforms for fundraising, such as Crowdfunder or JustGiving.
Biodiversity projects or outdoor learning equipment
- £n/a
- makes surplus and display items, including plants and planters, available for free to school and community groups
- open for applications
- https://www.diy.com/responsible-business/community/community-re-use
- £500
- funds come in two parts
- the first part consists of an outdoor learning kit that includes seedball packs, an infrared thermometer, wildlife camera, gardening kit, pollinator kit, minibeast investigator kit, wooden planters and waterproof clothing
- the second part consists of a two-hour Continued Professional Development session for staff
- open for applications
- https://ltl.org.uk/projects/local-school-nature-grants/
- £n/a
- state-funded primary schools can nominate themselves to receive discounted or free outdoor clothing and welly sets
- open for applications
- https://theoutdoorguidefoundation.org/
- up to £1,500
- funding to implement a school community nature space with plenty of learning opportunities
- open for applications
- https://www.groundwork.org.uk/grants_tesco-community-grants/
- £1,500 or £3,000
- funding for schools to carry out investigative research projects into biodiversity or climate change topics in partnership with a STEM professional from academia or industry
- guidance and support is available throughout the application process
- open for applications, with submission deadlines in April, June and November 2025
- https://royalsociety.org/grants/partnership-grants/unique-scheme-benefits/tomorrows-climate-scientists/#:~:text=An%20extension%20to%20the%20Partnership,address%20climate%20and%20biodiversity%20issues.
- £250–£3000
- supports projects focused on education, the environment, children, disabled people and youth activities that provide clear benefits to local communities close to Ford’s locations
- https://www.ford.co.uk/experience-ford/news/ford-britain-trust
- £500
- awarded to UK state-funded primary and secondary schools to help get their students learning outdoors
- https://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/what-we-do/everything-outdoors/outdoor-essentials-grant/
- £500
- monthly awards for equipment, training, travel or resources to facilitate outdoor learning in schools
- https://www.evolveadvice.co.uk/grants
- £1,000
- provides young people with an opportunity to lead projects in local nature spaces
- https://www.linnean.org/the-society/medals-awards-prizes-grants/our-local-nature-grants
- up to £400
- supports special schools of all ages as well as classes in schools at KS2 upwards to visit a selection of environmental education centres
- https://naee.org.uk/apply-for-a-school-bursary/
- up to £1,000
- annual prizes to support nature projects on school grounds
- https://letsgozero.org/the-ovo-foundation-nature-prize/
- win prizes of up to £5,000
- STEM contest where youth-led teams identify threats to natural resources in their communities, develop an innovative solution and then submit an idea for their action plan to win prize money
- http://uk.ourechochallenge.org
Tree or hedgerow funding
- £n/a
- free trees for communities and schools, with specific fruit packages for schools
- open for applications
- https://www.tcv.org.uk/i-dig-trees-free-trees/
- up to £10,200 per hectare and maintenance payments
- for settings with at least one hectare, can be a joint application with other land managers
- open for applications
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/england-woodland-creation-offer
- £n/a
- free packs of trees with mixed species tailored for different purposes or spaces
- successful applications now will get tree packs delivered in November 2025
- applications for November delivery are expected to close in August, or sooner depending on stock availability
- https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/
- £6,000
- supports the planting of indigenous trees
- can also provide consultation and support
- https://www.internationaltreefoundation.org/uk-grants
- £50,000–£300,000 and maintenance payments
- brings together community groups and local organisations, which can include education settings, to work with their local authority to plant trees in non-woodland spaces
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-authority-treescapes-fund
- £250-£2,500
- supports tree and hedgerow planting
- https://treecouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/planting-and-care/our-grants/branching-out/
- £1,000+
- supports with equipment, tree packs, project technology, training, in-school workshops and more
- https://youngtreechampions.org/
- up to 100% of costs and maintenance payments
- support for woodland creation for settings near England’s 13 Community Forests
- https://englandscommunityforests.org.uk/landowners/
- 80% of planting costs and establishment payments
- for settings in or near to urban areas
- applications assessed year-round
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/urban-tree-challenge-fund
A note on this guide
This is guide and not a comprehensive list, which we are adding to over time. Where possible, we've contacted providers to confirm that the information listed is up to date. However, we're not responsible for the accuracy of the information, suitability of the funding or whether the funding is still available. We can't support applications or hold responsibility for the outcome of applications.
If you know of relevant national funding sources not listed below, contact us with information on eligibility, criteria, amount and an up-to-date web link and we'll add it to the list.