Native Plant Nursery

Plant Grants

The Preserve has a proud tradition of supplying native plants to community organizations and school groups to promote native plants in the landscape and in gardens throughout the Delaware Valley. What began as an informal donation program has grown into a thoughtful grant process to keep up with demand and provide access to native plants to those who have the greatest need.

Program Background

The Plant Grants Program enlists a broader audience to help advance our mission to “inspire the appreciation and use of native plants by serving as a sanctuary and an educational resource for conservation and stewardship”. The Plant Grants Program provides “starter gardens” comprised of native species to nonprofit organizations and public agencies throughout the Delaware Valley who are engaged in community gardening, restoration, or beautification projects. In 2020, the Preserve will set aside 1,500 native plants to support up to 15 projects. Each Plant Grant recipient will be awarded up to 100 herbaceous plants, with some shrubs and trees available.

Program Goals

  • Provide education about the environmental importance of native plants
  • Facilitate the transition to native landscapes on public lands
  • Amplify the Preserve's impact throughout the Delaware Valley

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be a nonprofit organization or public agency
  • Project must be on public land or land owned by a nonprofit in the Delaware Valley
  • Applicants must be able to pick up plants from the Preserve and participate in native plant orientation and training as necessary
  • Applicants must have ability to maintain planting area for a minimum of three years

Evaluation Criteria

Applicants will be ranked and awarded based on the following criteria:

  • Eligibility of the applicant
  • How well the project meets the goals of the Plant Grants Program
  • Project location within the Delaware Valley
  • Availability of plants from the Preserve's nursery and suitability for project conditions
  • Audience served (with underserved populations taking priority)
  • Long term viability of project

Application Deadline

Plant Grants will be available in the spring and in the fall of each year. Applications are due by April 1, 2020 with notification by May 1st for spring planting projects and July 31, 2020 with notification by September 1st for fall planting projects. Please send applications electronically to nursery@bhwp.org by 5 pm on the day of the deadline.

Grantee Requirements

Grantees must sign a grant agreement with the Preserve agreeing to certain conditions, including the maintenance of the project area after completion, commitment to installing a project sign (included with grant), educating the public on the nature of the project and submitting a final report with photographs.

Resources