Applications are now open for the 2021 Grow Back Greener Fund, co-funded by the Mayor of London and Thames Water.
COVID-19 has demonstrated just how important our city’s amazing green spaces are for Londoners’ quality of life. They are looking for community projects across the capital that will improve access to green space, improve existing green spaces and help us adapt to climate change.
Grants between £10,000 and £75,000 are available across two themes: access to green space, and climate adaptation and water. The fund will prioritise locations with poor access to green space and high vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.
Access to Green Space
The access to green space theme will support projects that create new green space and green cover, that open up previously inaccessible spaces, and that improve the quality and accessibility of existing green space. Projects could include:
- enhancing or creating publicly accessible green spaces for people and/or wildlife
- community gardening and food growing
- permanently greening streets and public spaces, or creating parklets
- planting and maintaining trees or woodlands
- management activities to improve wildlife habitats
- supporting Londoners, especially underserved groups, to access green space and engage with nature
- creating opportunities for children to access nature, and outdoor play and learning, including within and near to schools.
Grants between £10,000 and £50,000 are available for the access to green space theme.
Climate Adaptation and Water
The climate adaptation and water strand theme will support projects that aim to enhance London’s resilience to climate change through green and blue infrastructure, and nature-based solutions that reduce flood risk, improve water quality, create shade and cool the city. It will also support projects to improve waterways and increase water and wastewater awareness. Projects could include:
- installing green sustainable drainage features to reduce local flood risk and store water for reuse
- increasing green cover and reducing surface water flood risk by de-paving to turn grey to green
- cleaning up, restoring and enhancing water bodies including rivers, canals and ponds
- tree planting to create shade and promote cooling, manage surface water and support natural flood management
- using nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands to improve water quality
- increasing water and wastewater awareness.
Grants between £10,000 and £75,000 are available for the climate adaptation and water theme.
Applications are open to civil society organisations, local authorities and schools. Projects must be completed by November 2022. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Monday 13 September.
For more information, and to apply for a grant, click here.