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.

Please contact our nursery assistant before completing your application to determine plant availability for your project. Seasonal demand may impact the plant inventory for the program. Thank you!

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 2022, 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 a limited selection of 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
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 Deadlines and Requirements

Spring Plant Grant applications will be accepted from 1/1/2022 – 4/30/2022
Fall Plant Grant applications will be accepted from 6/1/2022 – 8/30/2022
All plants must be picked up within 30 days of grant approval. Plants not picked up will be returned to inventory and applicants will be required to wait 1 year before reapplying.
Please send inquiries and applications electronically to nursery@bhwp.org