The city council’s popular biodiversity grants scheme has opened for a new round of bids from local groups and organisations today (Friday 12 June).
The initiative is now in its third year and funds local projects that provide a boost to biodiversity and the environment.
After a successful first round in 2024 that saw seven grants awarded, last year a further eight projects across the district were given financial backing. These were:
- Sturry and District United Church – memorial garden improvements
- Sturry Parish Council – centenary woodland and cemetery improvements
- Ickham Village Hall – community garden improvements
- Canterbury Swifts Group – creation of a swift neighbourhood in Herne Bay (pictured below)
- Friends of Canterbury Cemetery – pollinator-friendly planting in the cemetery (bottom picture)
- Water Meadows Primary School – creation of biodiversity habitats in a forest school-type area (including a bug hotel, top picture)
- Hackington Parish Council – pond restoration at Tyler Hill Meadow Nature Reserve
- Friends of West Cliff Bank – butterfly wildflower meadow project
For the 2026/27 round of funding, there is £15,000 in the pot once again and organisations can bid for any amount between £1,000 and £7,500. Grants can be used to part-fund a larger project or cover the entire cost of one project.
Applicants are required to demonstrate that all the funding they are bidding for can be fully spent on their project by 28 February 2027.
Bids must be able to show that they will result in an improvement in local biodiversity and environment, and be fully costed.
They must also confirm how maintenance will be carried out for at least five years after completion, which may be achieved through volunteering.
Cabinet member for biodiversity and environment, Cllr Mel Dawkins, said: “Our biodiversity grants scheme is really capturing people’s imaginations. We’ve had some brilliant ideas submitted over the last two years and are really pleased to be launching round three.
“What the successful bids so far have shown is that you can make a big difference to biodiversity and our environment through relatively small projects.
“A simple pond, tree or hedge planting or the creation of a wildflower meadow can really provide a boost to our wildlife.
“We are looking forward to receiving more great proposals and some inevitably difficult decisions about which ones to fund.”
The deadline for bids to be submitted is Friday 24 July.
Much more information and an application form is available on the council’s website.
The council is also holding an online public advice session where anyone can find out more information about the grants and ask any questions.
This takes place on Thursday 18 June from 6pm to 7.30pm using this online meeting link.
No pre-registration is required and people can pop in at any time during the 90 minutes.
Published: 12 June 2026
