Schools
One of Surrey Gardens Trust's principal aims is to encourage schools to improve their grounds and to create, or further develop a garden that would facilitate children’s learning through play and environmental awareness. We believe that if children can learn about the natural world by becoming involved in appreciating and caring for a garden around their school, they will continue to value the land around them in future life.
The Trust makes small grants to Foundation Stage, KS1 and KS2 schools to assist with project that improve their school grounds and give children the opportunity to grow plants and to extend their wider learning of the environment. The Trust has given awards to over 100 Surrey schools during the past 10 years. Awards can range between £25 to £500 depending on level of staff and pupil participation, sustainability and evidence of a maintenance plan.
Surrey Gardens Trust Awards for Schools
Grants totalling over £72,670 have been awarded to schools since 1997.
Grants for 2026 have now been awarded see results below.
Schools Grant Awards in 2026
In 2026 the Trust received 44 applications from Primary, Junior, Infant and Nursery schools across Surrey. We awarded a record £7,070 to 27 schools as well as £200 in garden vouchers to 3 schools through this scheme. The amounts given to each school varied depending on their requirements, with a range of smaller amounts or the Trust contributing to a particular part of a larger project. We would like to thank Squires Garden Centres for their generous donation of £200 worth of garden vouchers to distribute to eligible schools. They continue to support our work annually and we are most grateful.
Special Award for 2026: In memory of our previous Chair Lady Jill Leggatt, founder of the children’s Schools awards, a special award of £1,000 was given to a school whose project was judged as highly creative with wide children involvement.
This year there has been an interesting range of projects from schools. For example, a wellbeing garden, to provide a calm and engaging space, where pupils can connect with nature, support their wellbeing and develop environmental awareness. One school wishes to develop a Nature Hub which will allow children to learn about their environment and how to care for it. Creating an allotment garden is the focus for another school. The children will be involved in preparing the soil and planting seeds, watering and maintaining the crops, observing plant growth and wildlife and eventually harvesting the produce. To quote one school, ‘we wish to extend opportunities for pupils and families to experience a greener school and environment’. As in previous years the standard of applications has been high.
In addition, Surrey Gardens Trust has been able, through our grants, to help schools purchase equipment such as tools, raised beds, compost and plants to enable them to achieve their aspirations.
Thank you to everyone who applied and congratulations to every school that received a Schools Grant Award this year.
Please scroll down to read some quotes from recipients schools.
Photos above taken at Freemantles School, Woking (recipient of a Schools Award in 2024)
Ideas for your school grounds improvement projects
Wildflower areas to attract bees, butterflies and insects
Growing plants from seeds
Installing raised beds
Buying tools and equipment
Building compost areas
Planting trees and hedges to attract wildlife
Creating a pond or bog garden to attract pond life
Creating a sensory garden
comments from recipient schools
“‘Thank you from the bottom of our muddy wellies!’
’That’s great news! Thank you. It will make such a difference to improving our provision.’
’We are delighted to hear we have been awarded £300 towards the purchase of new planters.’
’Thank you so much for your kind donation, it will really make a difference in helping our classes to get the most out of the project and to spend more time gardening this summer. It’s exciting to be able to say ‘yes!’ to the children’s requests about what to grow, and the wormery will be an investment in both soil health and children’s understanding of composting.’
’Thank you, that’s great. We’re really pleased to come back to this news! We’re excited to be able to get started. Thank you SO much! We are thrilled and will be sure to send you lots of photos when we have put to £300 to good use.’
’Oh wow we are so thrilled and thankful to receive this news. It will really help to develop our allotment area.’
’We are absolutely delighted that our wellbeing garden project has been awarded £300. This will make a meaningful difference, and we are very grateful for your support.
We firmly believe the garden will have a positive impact on our children’s wellbeing, offering them a calm, nurturing space within the school grounds. Your contribution will help us move this vision forward, thank you so much.’
’Thank you very much for the good news, we are so pleased you’re able to support our project, thank you very much! Now the weather has improved we’re looking forward to getting going in the garden and your support will really help us to transform our space into a valuable educational and play resource for the children.’”
additional resources
Schools can obtain valuable resources and information about a range of gardening based activities and primary science programmes about plants from the Gardens Trust. These resources are suitable for teachers as well as volunteers seeking to make a worthwhile contribution to educating children about gardening. Please visit the Gardens Trust for more information.