The Wheen Bee Foundation’s Trees for Bees Community Tree Grants program is providing a total of $20,000 to 40 community groups across eight states and territories. The list of recipient organisations includes schools, community gardens, Landcare groups, kindergartens, aged care facilities, Aboriginal not-for-profits and a museum.

The program is sponsored by Flow® and Rabobank’s Rabo Community Fund and will support the planting of about 4,200 trees and shrubs, bringing together more than 15,500 community members to create pollinator habitat.

Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers said the record response to this year’s grants showed the growing commitment from schools and community groups to create pollinator habitat across Australia.

“Every year, we see more schools and community groups taking action for pollinators in their local areas,” Ms Chambers said.

“The enthusiasm and commitment from applicants this year was fantastic, and I’m delighted we can double the number of grants and support more projects than ever across the country.”

Sheidow Park Primary School, around 20km south of Adelaide, will transform a corner of its school oval into a pollinator-friendly garden, giving students a hands-on way to learn about and care for pollinators.

Year 2 and 3 teacher Melinda Prowse said the project would help students develop a sense of ownership while discovering the diversity of pollinators beyond honey bees.

“The students will take responsibility for caring for the garden, with morning walks to check on the trees and each child watering their own tree,” Ms Prowse said.

“We hope they’ll take what they learn home and inspire their families and the wider community to plant for pollinators.”

Rabobank community engagement manager Skye Ward said Rabobank was proud to support the Trees for Bees Community Tree Grants program, which was helping communities create practical, local benefits for pollinators, agriculture and the environment.

“As a specialist food and agribusiness bank, Rabobank understands the vital role bees and other pollinators play in supporting productive farming systems and healthy natural environments,” Ms Ward said.

“Supporting initiatives like this aligns strongly with our commitment to helping rural and regional communities build resilience and care for the natural resources agriculture depends on.”

Other grant recipients include the Women’s Museum of Australia and Old Gaol in Alice Springs, Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary on the NSW Mid North Coast, Capricornia Catchments in Central Queensland and the King Island Landcare Group, on an island in Bass Strait about 80km north-west of Tasmania.

Flow® CEO Cedar Anderson said it’s exciting to see such a broad range of communities come together to create habitat for pollinators.

“We’re proud to support the Trees for Bees initiative through our Billions of Blossoms program and help turn local action into lasting change for bees, pollinators and the broader environment,” Mr Anderson said.

The individual planting projects will begin in the coming weeks, with most projects expected to be completed by 31 October 2026.

To register your interest for future rounds, visit wheenbeefoundation.org.au/our-work/projects/community-tree-grants/