Five environmental funders close their doors between 9 November and 18 December 2026. They range from a wind farm community fund in Northumberland to a London gardens charity, a tree planting programme and a solar park fund in Wiltshire. Some deadlines are very close, so each section below tells you what the funder wants, when it closes and where to start. Several are place based, so check your location before you spend any time on the form.
Details are taken from funder listings dated 31 October 2026.
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01 / Community benefit & local projects
Wingates Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, Community Action Northumberland
Who are they?
Community Action Northumberland (CAN) runs this fund for communities around the Wingates wind farm in Northumberland.
What are they funding?
About £30,000 a year is shared across local projects. Past awards include improvements to village halls, play parks and sports fields, new facilities, activities for schools and play groups, and support for local fairs and cultural and sporting events.
Important: This is the tightest deadline in the post, so treat it as a quick turnaround. Confirm the eligible area before applying.
Apply: Read the guidance and apply through Community Action Northumberland .
Alira Arts tip
Check the eligible area on the CAN page before you write a word. Community benefit money is tied to place, so a clear sentence on who in the village benefits will do more than a long case for need.
02 / London gardens & green spaces
Community Garden Grants, Metropolitan Public Gardens Association
Who are they?
The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA) is a long established charity that protects and improves gardens, neglected sites and green open spaces across London.
What are they funding?
Modest grants for schools, hospices, hospitals, museums, voluntary organisations and community groups who want to improve the environment and quality of life for their local community.
Examples from the funder include a meditative garden at a bereavement centre and an outdoor gardening classroom at a school.
Geographic focus: This programme supports improvements to green spaces across London. Confirm eligibility directly with the MPGA.
Apply: Read the guidance and apply through Metropolitan Public Gardens Association .
Alira Arts tip
These grants are small, so match the ask to the job. A costed planting or landscaping plan with a few clear lines will beat a vision statement. Say who will look after the space next year.
03 / Environmental education
Alice McCosh Trust
Who are they?
The Alice McCosh Trust supports education connected with natural history and the environment.
What are they funding?
Grants in the region of £600 to £1,000 for work or study related to natural history and the environment.
That could cover a school field trip or project, an expedition that is part of a research project, or new teaching materials for schools or higher education.
Apply: Read the guidance and apply through Alice McCosh Trust .
Alira Arts tip
This is education first. Describe what learners will do and learn, not just the habitat. A one page budget with the trip or kit costed line by line suits a grant this size.
04 / Trees & community participation
UK Community Tree Planting Programme, International Tree Foundation
Who are they?
The International Tree Foundation was founded in Kenya in 1924 and works with local communities to plant, protect and promote trees.
What are they funding?
Community projects that create and conserve native trees, woods and habitats, bring people together in tree planting to raise awareness of the value of forests, and encourage social cohesion and inclusion.
Check the programme page for the grant size.
Apply: Read the guidance and apply through International Tree Foundation .
Alira Arts tip
Community involvement is the point. Show how many people will plant, who they are, and what happens after the trees go in, including aftercare for the first few years.
05 / Wiltshire community benefit
Wroughton Solar Park Community Benefit Fund (Large Grant), Wiltshire Community Foundation
Who are they?
Wiltshire Community Foundation manages this fund, which is linked to the Science Museum Group's Wroughton Solar Park.
What are they funding?
Grants of up to £20,000 for projects with a focus on science, technology, engineering, maths, environment, health or play.
A project can create a physical asset or encourage learning about an issue, such as renewable energy or habitat conservation.
The project must benefit communities within a 10km radius of the solar park.
Geographic eligibility: Projects must benefit communities within a 10km radius of Wroughton Solar Park, Wiltshire.
Apply: Read the guidance and apply through Wiltshire Community Foundation .
Alira Arts tip
Check the distance first. Put your postcode and the distance from the solar park in your opening paragraph, then show the science or environment angle plainly.
Alira Arts is an independent fundraising consultancy and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the funders listed above. Grant deadlines and criteria can change, so always confirm current details with the funder before applying.
Need help making the case?
If you'd like support choosing the right environmnetal funder or strengthen an application before deadline, get in touch with us.
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