The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a brand new £12 million Green Roots Fund to help create greener, healthier and more climate-resilient neighbourhoods across the capital.
The launch of the fund marks the start of London Climate Action Week (21–29 June), now the largest city-wide climate event in Europe with over 700 in-person and online events and an expected turnout of more than 45,000 people.
The Green Roots Fund will provide grants of up to £500,000 for local community groups, boroughs and stakeholders to support green projects like wildflower meadows, new trees, parklets, and river cleanups. Applications are now open.
The initiative is part of Sadiq’s 2024 manifesto pledge and aims to tackle environmental inequality. According to City Hall, people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are more than twice as likely to live in areas with limited green space, and one in five London homes have no access to a garden.
The fund will be used to improve and create green and blue spaces across the capital – including parks, community gardens, wetlands, and rivers – and could even lead to the reintroduction of lost species through habitat restoration.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “I am delighted to launch my new Green Roots Fund to deliver spaces across our capital that are greener, healthier and more climate resilient.
“I want to encourage all community groups to get involved in helping to transform our neighbourhoods and ensure that all Londoners can benefit from nature.
“I am thrilled to be announcing this new investment during London Climate Action Week as our capital delivers the largest city-wide climate event in Europe.
“The benefits of nature should be for everyone and I am committed to making this a reality for all Londoners, as we continue to build a greener and fairer London for everyone.”
Since taking office in 2016, the Mayor says his team has improved or created over 900 hectares of green space – the equivalent of 2,000 football pitches – and planted more than 600,000 trees, including two new woodlands.
Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Mete Coban, said: “London Climate Action Week provides a platform to showcase our capital as a global climate leader.
“It is fantastic Sadiq is delivering on his Manifesto pledge this week to launch London’s Green Roots Fund and kickstart a series of over 700 events across our capital over the coming days.
“I urge Londoners to get involved in the many in person and virtual events across the coming days as the Mayor and I work to deliver more natural spaces in our city that are accessible to all.”
Highlights during the week include:
- A seed packet giveaway today (23 June) at 12 stations in areas with less green space
- The London Climate Action Week Youth Summit at ZSL for over 150 young people
- The Climate Innovation Forum featuring Sadiq Khan and global climate leaders
- A week of talks at Goals House on sustainability, business, biodiversity and more
Founder and Chair of London Climate Action Week, Nick Mabey, said: “London Climate Action Week 2025 is more than double the size of last year and attracting even greater international participation.
“This shows the depth of London’s climate solutions sector whether in finance, clean tech or fashion and the enthusiasm of Londoners to be part of climate action.
“This energy across the whole of society shows how divorced the current elite political discussion on net zero is from economic and grassroots reality.”
You can find out more about the Green Roots Fund, including how to apply, on the official London City Hall website or by following the Mayor of London’s social channels.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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