The National Education Nature Park initiative is designed to help children and young people connect with nature through their education settings, such as schools, nurseries, and colleges.
The Department for Education (DfE) announced a £15m fund for eligible educational institutions to apply for grants to enhance their outdoor spaces and integrate nature into learning.
Read on to learn more about national education nature park funding information and eligibility.
What is National Education Nature Park funding?
Funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and administered by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the National Education Nature Park funding aims to transform school grounds and other educational spaces by introducing biodiversity improvements and outdoor learning resources. Grants of up to £10,000 are available to support projects such as:
- Making green spaces with planters, trees, green walls and water butts.
- Providing outdoor education equipment, including tools and waterproof clothing
- Purchasing fieldwork equipment, such as camera traps and hand-held digital devices
- Contractor support for installation and consultation
- Creating grasslands and ponds
What resources can you buy with your funding?
With the support of National Education Nature Park funding, you can equip your school with the resources it needs to turn your outdoor settings into green spaces.
TTS has been providing resources to classrooms across the world for 40 years and we understand that budgets need to be looked after with great care.
Our dedicated Nature Education page can help give you the inspiration you need to find the resources you need, with products to fit the criteria for your funding. If you also want some quick ideas, check out the products below, or get in touch with our dedicated support team by filling in the form at the bottom of this page.
Who is eligible for National Education Nature Park funding?
Education settings have been divided into three funding groups, each with different eligibility criteria.
Funding Group 1 Settings
- Settings that were eligible for funding in academic year 2023 to 2024 and awarded it
- Settings that are eligible again and can apply for a further £2,000 for continued engagement
Funding Group 2 Settings
- Settings that were eligible for funding in academic year 2023 to 2024 but did not apply
- Settings that remain eligible for funding of up to £10,000
Funding Group 3 Settings
- Settings that were not eligible for funding in academic year 2023 to 2024
- Settings in a lower-layer super output area (LSOA) in Category 1 of Natural England’s (NE) accessible natural greenspace inequalities indicator
- Settings that submitted a school-level census return in the autumn term of the 2024 to 2025 academic year
- Settings that are eligible for funding of up to £10,000
What is the eligibility criteria for different funding groups?
Eligibility information for Groups 1 and 2
- Settings must have submitted a school-level census return in the autumn term of the 2021/2022 academic year
- Settings must be located in a lower-tier local authority assessed as a category 1 levelling-up area by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in the second round of the Levelling Up Fund (the MHCLG has been removed for 2024-2025 to increase eligible settings numbers).
- Settings are located in a LSOA in category 1 of Natural England’s accessible natural greenspace inequalities indicator.
Eligibility information for Group 3
- Settings must have submitted a school-level census return in the autumn term of the 2024/2025 academic year
- Settings are located in a LSOA in category 1 of Natural England’s accessible natural greenspace inequalities indicator.
How to find out if your setting is eligible for National Education Nature Park funding
The Royal Horticultural Society’s delivery partners will contact eligible settings with further details.
How does National Education Nature Park funding apply to Multi-academy Trusts?
If a setting is part of a multi-academy trust, other schools within the trust may also be eligible for funding but will be listed separately.
Who can you speak to about spending your National Education Nature Park funding?
If you’d like further support on how best to spend your funding, fill out the form below and we’ll be happy to guide you on the best resources to buy with your funding.
