The Hardy Orchid Society (HOS) promotes the conservation, cultivation, scientific study and sustainable enjoyment of the wild orchids of Britain, Europe and other temperate regions. HOS supports safeguarding wild orchid populations and preserving wild habitats for the benefit of present and future generations. The Hardy Orchid Society Conservation Grants aim to encourage communities to incorporate orchid conservation work into their environmental initiatives by contributing a small sum to help protect and enhance wild orchids and their habitats.

The Hardy Orchid Society Conservation Grants aim to encourage communities to incorporate orchid conservation work into their environmental initiatives by contributing a small sum to help protect and enhance wild orchids and their habitats. The recipients are requested to acknowledge the receipt of funds and send a statement that the funds have been used for the purpose requested  (and photos if possible) when the work is completed.

Eligibility

  1. Funding is available for projects submitted by any kind of organisation including charities, community groups, schools, voluntary organisations, special-interest groups and individuals.
  2. Projects must be entirely based within the UK. Domestic garden projects will not be considered.
  3. Work must be ongoing or planned to commence within 12 months of the grant date.
  4. HOS will consider providing additional funding to projects that have already secured commitments from other funding organisations provided that that funding will enhance the conservation outcomes. 
  5. An applicant can only submit a single project application in any one year. Multiple applications by the same applicant will not be considered.
  6. The application must state exactly what the funds will be used for and provide prices for the actual make and model of any equipment desired and quotes for external work.

Successful applicants must agree to providing HOS with annual updates on progress until project work has been completed and a final summary of results has been submitted. A HOS plaque may be provided for display on the site. Unless there are good reasons not to, the HOS will publicise successful awards. Applicants will be encouraged to submit a short article for publication in the HOS Journal or to give a talk at one of our meetings, to promote the work they have undertaken and the benefits it has delivered.

If you are not sure if your project may be eligible for a grant, please email: hosgrants@hardyorchidsociety.org with a brief outline of your project and a contact phone number for an informal conversation.

Application Guidelines

The Application Form asks for details about the applicant, affiliation, contact, site location and the amount requested. This should be accompanied by a project outline. All decisions taken by HOS are final. Completed applications as email attachments should be sent to email address hosgrants@hardyorchidsociety.org   All applications received will be acknowledged.

  1. Grants are made to projects that specifically address the conservation, promotion and sustainable enjoyment of native wild orchids and the protection and sensitive management of their habitats. 
  2. Applications for funding must summarise the key features and expected orchid conservation outcomes of the proposed project. 
  3. Each application will be assessed on its own merits.

Application and Application Form

Applications should be made in electronic form only and should include a completed Application Form together with a description of the proposed project. This should be in the form of a separate document in a digital form (pdf or Word) of one to two pages using a font no smaller than Calibri or Times Roman 12pt. This should address the following elements.

  1. Current condition of the site: Information is needed about the site in its present state. This should be a broad habitat description (meadow, woodland, acidity, wetness etc) and details of past use, including any past agricultural activity and its impact.
  2. Flora including orchids present: Which wildflowers, including orchids, are present and how well are any existing orchid populations faring (stable, increasing, decreasing)?  
  3. Proposed project: What will the grant be used for? Provide details of habitat management to enhance the site for the benefit of orchids. These orchids may be present already but alternatively their re-introduction where locally extinct might be a valid project aim. Describe the work proposed and give a breakdown of how the funding will be used.
  4. Longer-term management: What plans have been made for the longer-term management of the site so as to maintain and enhance the outcome of work supported by the grant?
  5. Access and community engagement: To what extent is the site open to the public?  Does its future maintenance involve a local community group or group of volunteers?
  6. Vision for the future: If your project is successful what do you expect the gains to be in terms of a future for orchids on the site? Give your vision for the site at the end of the grant and into the future.

 Include at least one photograph of the site (no more than five sized 2.5 Mb or less) and if possible an illustrative map of the proposed project site. Please send all the information by email(s) not links.

The Application Form can be found here

Items that the HOS grant might be applied for