Squireโs Garden Centres, member of Surrey Hills Enterprises, is delighted to announce the launch of its 2026 โLove Where You Liveโ community gardening programme, inviting local groups to apply for funding to support projects that use gardening to bring people together, improve wellbeing and enhance shared spaces.
*** APPLICATIONS ARE NOW EXTENDED UNTIL MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY 8th FEBRUARY ***
As Squireโs looks ahead to 2026 โ its 90th anniversary year โ the programme reflects the companyโs long-standing commitment to giving back to the communities it has proudly served since 1936. โLove Where You Liveโ is designed to support grassroots gardening projects close to Squireโs centres, helping local ideas grow into lasting community assets.
The programme offers a total fund of ยฃ5,000, with individual awards of up to ยฃ500, provided in the form of Squireโs vouchers. These can be redeemed for plants, tools and essential gardening supplies to help projects take shape and flourish. Successful applicants will be announced in mid-March. Applications need to ensure that proposed projects can be fulfilled within the programme period of April-July 2026.
Community groups located within a 10-mile radius of a Squireโs Garden Centre are invited to apply via the Squireโs website. Projects should demonstrate clear community benefit, show how gardening will be used to make a positive impact between April and July, and outline how the project will be sustained beyond the award period. Accessible, inclusive initiatives and those supporting people with specific needs are particularly encouraged. *Entry criteria applies โ see website for more details.
Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squireโs Garden Centres, comments: โAs we approach our 90th anniversary, it feels especially important to celebrate and support the communities around our centres. The โLove Where You Liveโ programme is one of the ways we can give something back โ helping local groups create welcoming green spaces that bring people together and make a real difference.โ
Demonstrating the benefits of being a successful recipient of an award in 2025, Melissa Salisbury, Centre Manager, at Hale Community Garden, comments: โReceiving a Love Where You Live award made a real difference to our project. The support from Squireโs enabled us to buy plants, tools and materials we simply wouldnโt have been able to afford, helping us turn ideas into a thriving space the whole community can enjoy. Itโs been wonderful to see people come together through gardening.โ
The โLove Where You Liveโ awards sit alongside Squireโs long-running Charity of the Year programme, reinforcing the businessโs commitment to building strong, meaningful relationships within local communities.
Applications are open and extended to close on 8 February 2026. Full details and application forms can be found at squiresgardencentres.co.uk.
โข The โLove Where You Liveโ programme offers a total fund of ยฃ5,000, with individual awards of up to ยฃ500 in Squireโs vouchers.