TRLA Small Grants Recipient's

2026 TRLA Small Grants Recipients Announced!

We are excited to announce the recipients of our 2026 Small Grants Program, with over $21,000 awarded to support local environmental and community initiatives across the region.

This year’s program attracted a strong and diverse range of applications from schools, Landcare groups and community organisations. The quality of submissions was outstanding, reflecting the passion and commitment of our community to improving the environment, building resilience and strengthening local connections.

TRLA Chair, Wayne Chaffey, acknowledged the breadth of projects funded this year and the impact they will have across the region.

“These grants support practical, grassroots projects that make a real difference—from improving biodiversity and soil health to building skills, community wellbeing and environmental awareness,” Mr Chaffey said.

2026 Small Grants Recipients

• Barraba Public School – continuing native tree and shrub planting to enhance biodiversity and create habitat within school grounds
• Currawong Park Volunteers – delivering a native bee education program with workshops, hosting the Bee Man and bee habitat installations
• Dungowan Hall Committee – native plantings to improve community space and strengthen habitat connections
• Nemingah Community Garden – hosting workshops on small-space gardening, worm farming and frog habitat creation
• Tamworth Bird Watchers – training community members to build traps targeting invasive pest bird species
• TRLA Nursery Volunteers – hosting a community open day featuring a bush tucker talk, shared meal and pizza oven build
• Upper Mooki Landcare – delivering regenerative agriculture workshops focused on soil health and landscape resilience
• Carbon8 – engaging regional students in hands-on workshops exploring soil, water cycles and biodiversity
• Holistic Recovery – supporting vulnerable community members through skills-based gardening and food production programs
• Werris Creek Lions Club – restoring riparian vegetation and addressing erosion along Werris Creek
• Timbumburi Public School – building a new chicken coop to support hands-on learning and sustainable food systems
• Dungowan Public School – environmental education excursion to deepen student understanding of biodiversity and land management
• Tamworth Community Gardens – running seasonal gardening workshops promoting sustainable food production and community wellbeing

TRLA is particularly pleased to support a strong mix of schools and community groups, recognising their important role in educating future generations and fostering long-term environmental stewardship.

We extend our sincere thanks to all applicants for the time, effort and passion invested in their submissions. While not all projects could be funded this year, we strongly encourage those groups to refine their ideas and apply again in 2027.

We’re proud to support initiatives that care for our landscapes, strengthen our communities, and bring people together—and we look forward to seeing these projects come to life.