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Scotland’s Urban Green Spaces Get a Boost Through Action Earth Grants
Volunteering Matters launches 2025 funding drive to empower communities in tackling climate and biodiversity crises
In a bold response to Scotland’s climate emergency and biodiversity decline, Volunteering Matters has announced the 2025 launch of its Action Earth programme—an initiative offering grants to urban volunteer groups to transform local green spaces.
Backed by £226,236 from The National Lottery Community Fund and £30,000 from NatureScot, the programme aims to mobilize communities across Scotland’s cities, towns, and villages to take practical action for nature.
Action Earth provides grants of up to £250 for environmental projects that enhance biodiversity and improve public green spaces. The initiative is open to any volunteer group operating in urban areas, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity and community impact. Projects must involve at least 15 volunteers, each contributing a minimum of five hours, and must be completed with feedback submitted by February 28, 2026.
Eligible activities include creating wildflower meadows, ponds, community woodlands, and other wildlife habitats. While food-growing projects are excluded, the programme encourages planting native species and using peat-free compost to support sustainable practices. Sites must be publicly accessible, and expenses such as plants, tools, and volunteer costs can be reimbursed upon submission of receipts and feedback forms.
The programme prioritises applications from groups working in areas of social or economic deprivation, those improving health and wellbeing, and projects involving disabled individuals or young people under 26. In 2024 alone, Action Earth volunteers contributed 36,211 hours, with nearly half of the projects taking place in Scotland’s most deprived areas. Notably, 45.7% of volunteers were new to environmental volunteering, highlighting the initiative’s role in fostering civic engagement.
Beyond funding, Volunteering Matters offers support with social media promotion, press releases, and project development. Successful applicants receive promotional materials and certificates, reinforcing the sense of achievement and community pride.
The programme’s impact is already being felt. One participant from Green St Boswells shared,
“We feel our small project is part of a much bigger positive contribution towards a world where collective small improvements really can be of benefit when they all come together”.
Action Earth also provides a wealth of resources to guide groups in habitat creation for wildlife—from bumblebees and butterflies to birds and small mammals. Partnerships with organisations like The Woodland Trust, RSPB, and Butterfly Conservation offer expert advice on tree planting and wildlife-friendly gardening.
As Scotland moves toward its 2045 biodiversity goals, Action Earth stands out as a grassroots force for change. By empowering volunteers to reclaim and restore urban nature, the programme not only enriches local ecosystems but also strengthens community bonds and promotes wellbeing.
For those interested in applying or learning more, Volunteering Matters encourages groups to act swiftly, as grants are limited and in high demand. With collective effort, Scotland’s urban landscapes can become thriving havens for both people and wildlife. Action Earth – Volunteering Matters
