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Community Foundation North East awarded Dilston Physic Garden a £7,960 grant from the Riverbank Fund and the Local Environmental Action Fund to support the garden’s natural habitat project. The funding has supported the charity to employ a natural‑habitat gardener for a full year and carry out ecological assessments to strengthen biodiversity across its two‑acre site.
Su Legg, Senior Philanthropy Advisor at Community Foundation North East, said:
“This project shows how targeted environmental funding can drive meaningful local change. By supporting habitat work and increasing opportunities for the community to get involved, Dilston Physic Garden is creating a space that benefits both local people and wildlife.”
The garden has been able to maintain the site without using any chemical fertilisers, weed control or pesticides. Through hand weeding and dedicated habitat work, native plant diversity has increased by around 50%, with a richer mix of meadow, grassland and woodland‑edge species now supporting a wider range of insects, mammals and birds. New insect habitats and hedgehog housing have also been installed to create sheltered and secure areas for the wildlife that depends on the space.
The project has also seen a significant increase in community engagement. Workshops, guided tours, courses, community group visits and education outreach sessions have helped boost participation by around 60%. Participants have contributed to urban rewilding work and gained practical conservation experience.
Nicolette Perry, Director at Dilston Physic Garden, said:
“We’re so incredibly thankful for the funding that has enabled our natural habitat project to continue to flourish. Receiving this support reinforced the value of our work and inspired greater interest and engagement from volunteers and the wider community. The project strengthened wellbeing within our volunteer community by valuing their work and empowering more people across the North East to play a meaningful role in caring for the natural world.”
Community Foundation North East supports environmental projects across Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and the wider region. Find out more about our grants here.