Grants of up to £40,000 available to improve or create community green spaces

Caldershaw meadow in full bloom in 2020

Communities across Greater Manchester can now apply for grants of up to £40,000 to improve or create local green spaces as applications for the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund are now live.

The £2.6million scheme supports community-led projects that increase the amount and quality of accessible, nature-rich green space in the region, particularly in the areas where people need it most. It gives small grants to communities to improve local green spaces or create new ones.

Projects should improve accessible spaces through physical improvements to make them better places for nature and people. These projects could take place in parks, community gardens, streets, schools, housing estates, canals/streams/rivers, and existing nature reserves. There are two types of grants available: grants up to £10,000 and grants between £10,000 and £40,000.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Local green spaces are such an important part of our efforts to improve the environment, support local wildlife and offer local people a great place to live. Everyone should have access to high-quality green spaces, regardless of where they live, and I’m pleased we’re able to launch this scheme which will further support our ambitions for a greener and fairer future.

“In Greater Manchester, we’re serious about making the changes needed so we can reach our target of becoming a  carbon neutral city region by 2038 and for our region to be a greener and fairer place for everyone.”

Councillor Neil Emmott, Lead for Green City Region and Waste & Recycling, said: “Improving and maintaining local green spaces can go such a long way in not only improving air quality and carbon levels, but it’s also great for social and mental wellbeing. Through our Green Spaces Fund, people across the whole of our region can now apply for grants to improve or create new green spaces in their area.

“These scheme will build on the great work already going on across Greater Manchester to make our region a greener and fairer place for everyone.”

For more information and to apply, visit the Greater Manchester Environmental Fund website.