Applications for Grants have now closed.
Successful applications will be announced during April 2013.
Background
How the Community Benefits
Donations by garden owners
Open Garden Australia grants
The annual Giving Program builds on the success of 12 previous programs that have returned over $1,100,000 to the community. Since 1987 Open Gardens Australia has funded over 485 community projects around Australia.
Open Gardens Australia is a self-funding, not-for-profit organisation that promotes the knowledge, benefits and pleasure of gardens and gardening to all Australians.
Each year more than 200,000 people visit around 500 private gardens which open as part of our regional programs. A proportion of the visitors' entry fees fund the organisation's operation.
Funds surplus to operating costs are returned to the community in the form of grants for garden-related projects.
ABC Radio has been a proud supporter of OGA since its inception in 1987. From local Saturday morning gardening talkback to 'Gardening Australia' on ABC Television, the ABC supports and recognises gardening as one of Australia's most popular pastimes.
How the Community Benefits
By opening Australia's finest private gardens to the public, the community benefits financially in two very distinct ways: by donations to charity by our garden owners, and by the organisations own Giving Program.
Donations by garden owners
Since 1987 our garden owners have donated more than $4.84 million to charity. Last season alone, our garden owners donated around $270,000 to charities and local causes. These funds were raised through garden entry fees, refreshment stalls, plants sales and various other activities on open days.
Garden Grants
Open Gardens Australia is committed to encouraging gardening and improving our environment. One of the ways we achieve this is by funding community-based garden projects. Each year, funds surplus to our operational costs are returned to the community in the form of grants.
Since 1987, community projects around Australia have benefited to the tune of $1,100,000.
Recipients of funds include Botanic Gardens which play a vital role in encouraging plant diversity and education. We have funded the identification of important plant collections which enhance the community's knowledge and appreciation of plant diversity.
Open Gardens Australia's commitment to the gardeners of the future is aptly demonstrated by the substantial number of school gardens which have received funding, encouraging tomorrow's gardeners.
The therapeutic qualities of gardens and plants have also ensured that hospitals and retirement villages have been the focus of a number of grants.
A growing interest in the gardening heritage of Australia is also reflected in grants given for tree surgery, restoration of hard landscaping, undergrounding of utilities and research into historic gardens.
Inspired by the enthusiasm of community groups, we have provided funds for projects which are enhancing towns and cities across the breadth of Australia. Included among these are a number of gardens celebrating specific plant collections.
In recognition of the challenges of gardening in our climate, Open Gardens Australia has also been involved in the construction of waterwise gardens, the installation of watering systems in historic gardens and several fire safe gardens in a bushfire-prone regions.
The 2011-12 Giving Program recipients
Continuing our long history of provision of grants to garden projects in communities around the country, the following projects were recently funded.
The grants have been awarded to projects for garden repair, restoration and renewal in sites that give priority to continuing public accessibility and community benefits.
The list of recipients is here>>>
The funds provided in grants have been derived from revenue gained from garden entry fees and other garden event income. In this way, visitors to our gardens are supporting the broader gardening community.
Continuing our long history of provision of grants to garden projects in communities around the country, the following projects were recently funded.
The grants have been awarded to projects for garden repair, restoration and renewal in sites that give priority to continuing public accessibility and community benefits.
The list of recipients is here>>>
The funds provided in grants have been derived from revenue gained from garden entry fees and other garden event income. In this way, visitors to our gardens are supporting the broader gardening community.
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