People in the province can now apply for the Green Neighborhood Voucher: free money for greenery! – Houtens News

April 27, 2024 at 9:53 am

Nature and environment

WOODEN Green is cozy, healthy and soothing. That is why the Green Neighborhood Voucher helps people in the province of Utrecht to green their neighborhood or district. Residents in the province of Utrecht who want more plants and flowers around them can apply for a Green Neighborhood Voucher of €500 or €1000. This money can be used for a project that makes the neighborhood greener. For example, brightening up gray parking lots, parks or playgrounds with flower meadows. Or creating facade gardens, community gardens or green tree mirrors. This action is financed by the province of Utrecht and implemented by the Nature and Environment Federation Utrecht, Landschap Erfgoed Utrecht and IVN.

Green neighborhoods are good for people. Trees provide clean air and keep the neighborhood nice and cool. People who live in a green neighborhood are happier and less stressed, research shows. And it’s also fun, because green places are often meeting places. The province of Utrecht, the Nature and Environment Federation Utrecht, Landscape Heritage Utrecht and IVN are happy to contribute to this with the Green Neighborhood Voucher.

TO REQUEST

Applications can be made via groenaandebuurt.nl/groene-buurtbon. The organizations assess the applications based on the moment the application was made. Applicants will receive a message from the team about their application within 2 weeks. After approval, they will receive the requested amount in their account and they can get started. Need some more time? No problem, as long as the project is completed before April 1, 2025.

INSPIRATION

This is the fourth time that people can apply for a Green Neighborhood Voucher (formerly: Voucher Scheme), so there are already plenty of inspiring examples. In 2017, 2019 and 2021, 469 Utrecht residents throughout the province submitted a successful application. Inspiring examples of previous projects can be found on the Groen aan de Buurt website.