Improve your school grounds and create a space for outdoor learning that is filled with native trees, bulbs and habitat boxes.
Check out #BacktoNature on social media for all the latest updates.
And, if you have any questions about the FAQs below, please contact the Local Places for Nature team.
Please note, the deadline for School Orchard Packages applications is 1 December 2023.
Each package is pre-determined so you will receive ALL the items listed . Please ensure you have enough space to fit and store all the necessary items before you apply.
Our team will agree a work plan and delivery schedule with you, but you will need to be available to accept deliveries of all items below as agreed.
Keep reading for our other essential requirements.
Our School Orchard Packages have been designed for schools looking to create small community orchards on land that is in ‘not for profit ownership’. Applications are open to all local authority-maintained schools.
Priority will be given to projects meeting all the requirements of the application process who are located in urban/peri-urban or rural town locations, involve disadvantaged members of the community, are located in areas of the highest deprivation (identified by the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation) and have little or no access to nature.
Priority will be given to applications that involve Black Asian, Minority Ethnic and/or disabled participants.
Nurseries, colleges and universities
Please note, if you have already received funding for your activity or site from the National Lottery Heritage Fund or your Local Nature Partnership, there may be restrictions that could affect your application. Please contact nature@keepwalestidy.cymru for more information.
If you have already received a package, you meet all this year’s key criteria and want to apply for another package, then you may be able to apply. We would suggest you apply for a different site. Please note, that priority is likely to be given to applicants who have not applied before.
We welcome and support applications from disadvantaged/underrepresented groups and those who have limited capacity for involvement in projects such as Local Places for Nature. Applications will score highly if they include participants from the following groups:
We don’t have any involvement with disadvantaged groups, can we still apply?
Yes. There are other key scheme criteria that applicants need to demonstrate they meet (see above). Saying that, we encourage all applicants to outline how they have consulted with disadvantaged/under-represented members of their local community and how they will be involved in the project going forward, as we want the projects to be as inclusive as possible. Involving disadvantaged groups will strengthen your application, giving you a higher chance of success.
Please submit the relevant application form via the Keep Wales Tidy website. You are not required to set up an account or login to apply, but please note, once you have started your application, you will not be able to save your progress and return to it later.
A preview of the questions can be found below, and further details on supporting information can be found in these FAQs. Please read this guidance carefully before starting your application.
Please answer all the questions within the recommended word count.
Please note, the deadline for Orchard Package applications is 1 December 2023.
All applications will be assessed by a grant panel including representatives from Keep Wales Tidy, Welsh Government, Social Farms and Gardens, The Wildlife Trusts and local nature experts.
Applications will be judged against programme criteria, with priority given to applications who meet at least three of the following key scheme criteria:
When considering applications, the panel will award packages across a broad range of locations / partners / organisations so that different approaches can be trialled and monitored.
The panel will decide whether an application is:
If all above priorities are scored equally, then the package will be awarded to the applicant in the area of highest overall deprivation according to the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation.
The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) is the Welsh Government’s official measure of relative deprivation for small areas in Wales. It is designed to identify those small areas where there are the highest concentrations of several different domains of deprivation. WIMD is currently made up of eight separate domains of deprivation.
Click here for interactive WIMD map of areas of highest deprivation. Priority will be given to applications in the 50% most deprived of any WIMD deprivation statistic (e.g. physical, education, income).
When will we hear if we are successful?
A grants panel meeting will take place at the end of 2023 for School Orchard applications. All applicants will be informed via email within five working days of a grants panel meeting.
What is What3words and why do we have to use it?
What3words is a website and app that has divided the world into 3 metre squares and gave each square a unique combination of three words. It’s the easiest way to find and share exact locations. More and more delivery companies are now insisting on What3Words when planning deliveries. It is the best way to ensure items get delivered to the exact location.
Please visit www.what3words.com to pinpoint the exact location of your garden and the delivery location.
How much does it cost?
Nothing.
Do we need insurance cover in place?
Yes, you will need to have public liability insurance for the site. Please talk to the landowner to see what levels of cover are required. They may already have cover in place. If a Keep Wales Tidy officer is in attendance during an activity, then participants will be covered for personal accidents. However, this cover will not be in place if the officer is not present, so you will need to get adequate cover for future activities.
Our site is not publicly accessible for safety reasons – are we still able to apply?
Potentially, yes. It all depends on your specific circumstances and whether you meet other scheme criteria. Please contact nature@keepwalestidy.cymru to ask for advice.
What landowner permission do I need to provide?
For the School Orchard Package, we will accept a letter of support from the headteacher as proof of landowner’s permission.
I don’t know the habitat / nature value of the site and do not know who my local ecologist or wildlife expert is. Can you help?
A list of all local nature partnership leads (local authority staff) can be found here. Please contact the lead for your authority (or another suitably qualified expert) and ask them to provide advice on your site and whether it is suitable for the package you have chosen. We must ensure that the package will do no harm by damaging/replacing existing habitat, so it is imperative that you seek advice and provide confirmation in your application.
The species mixes chosen are generic, native to the UK and suitable for wide range of habitats. Local Nature partnership and Wildlife Trust representatives will attend each grant panel to assess applications. All applicants need to speak to their Local Authority ecologist or another local expert to ensure the package is suitable before applying.
How much space do we need to install all package items?
The minimum area required is 320m2.
The packages are designed primarily for places where there is little or no access to nature. Therefore, certain locations will not be suitable eg Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Local Nature Reserves, species-rich areas or locations that contain protected species. There may be other ways your project can be supported from other partners, so contact nature@keepwalestidy.cymru for advice.
We don’t have a maintenance plan or any resources to maintain the site in future, can we have a package?
Ongoing maintenance of the site is one of the key assessment criteria. Keep Wales Tidy and partners will help you to prepare a maintenance plan and will provide training on how to look after the site in the long-term. Unfortunately, if you don’t agree to maintain the site for five years then your application will be unsuccessful.
How many volunteers do we need to build and manage the nature spaces?
Whilst Keep Wales Tidy staff will help you install your garden, as the applicant you must provide sufficient volunteers to ensure the garden is installed safely. We suggest a minimum of five core volunteers to construct the site, although the more local people that are involved the better. Additional volunteers will spread the workload and can provide moral support through taking on other roles such as refreshments, promoting the site through social media and photography. Applicants must commit to 25 hours during the year to install and manage the garden.
If you cannot provide volunteer support, your application is unlikely to be approved. You will need to provide letters of support from any organisations who will be involved. The panel need to feel confident that you have a core of volunteers who will build the garden, and committed community interest to manage the site long-term.
Do you need to be fit? How physical will the work be?
There will be tasks suitable for all ages and abilities. Some activities will involve physical activities such as lifting, bending, digging but there will be lots of lighter tasks too such as, planting, weeding and watering. We will do our best to find suitable activities for anyone who wants to get involved.
Do we need any skills or experience?
No, a Keep Wales Tidy project officer will be on hand to explain the project activities in detail and provide informal training and support. They will carry out a risk assessment and go through a health and safety briefing with all participants. Simple guidance documents and instructions will be provided for volunteers to follow.
What do volunteers need to bring?
You will be working on an outdoors site perhaps with no shelter and are likely to get dirty. We ask volunteers to wear suitable clothing for the predicted weather conditions and sturdy footwear. Volunteers will be asked to bring their own gardening or work gloves. Some tools and gloves will be provided, but depending on expected numbers and package type, it may be handy for volunteers/groups to bring along extra spades, trowels etc.
Can children get involved?
Yes, but under 16s will need to be supervised by adults.
No, the Orchard Package has been designed to go on one site to have the best impact.
Can we amend the contents of my chosen package?
No. The packages are pre-determined. If you require different items to develop your local nature space, please visit the National Lottery website for details of their capital funding pot.
In what way will Keep Wales Tidy staff be available to support us to install the packages?
Keep Wales Tidy staff will help you plan and build your new garden. They will agree a work schedule with you at your initial site visit. The sooner you book your activity days in with your local officer, the more likely you are to get your preferred dates, particularly if you want work to take place at the weekend. We will also provide advice and guidance for the future maintenance of the site.
When the project has been built, can we keep the tools?
Yes.
What happens if we get awarded a package and then cannot deliver it by end of February 2024?
All work must be completed by then. If your circumstances change, and you can no longer meet this timescale you MUST inform Keep Wales Tidy as quickly as possible so they can allocate the package to someone else.
Not for the same activities, but there may be other work that packages do not cover that may be eligible. You will need to speak to National Lottery to confirm.
If we are allocated a project, will Keep Wales Tidy repair or replace items in the package that are subsequently worn out, broken, damaged or stolen?
No, the funding will only cover the items and their installation once. Please work with our team to consider location of items when planning your garden e.g. sheltering structures such as sheds / greenhouses / trellises from high winds if possible.
How will my package be delivered?
It will be a combination of boxed items delivered by courier and larger pallet deliveries. Smaller items will be delivered in the mail or by courier. The photos below are designed to give an impression of the size of some of the deliveries.
