Funding allocated for community gardens across Tallinn
This year, the City of Tallinn will support the creation or development of 39 community gardens, 95 educational gardens, and 10 urban gardening projects, with a total budget of €343,880. These gardens and related projects help residents grow edible plants, learn to take care of the environment, and make the city greener and more biodiverse.
“Community and educational gardens help promote a healthy lifestyle and food security in Tallinn as well. By supporting urban gardens, we give residents the opportunity to get their hands in the soil and grow their own food. By supporting educational gardens, we increase the share of fresh garden produce in children's diets and encourage them to eat healthily,” said Tallinn Deputy Mayor Pärtel-Peeter Pere.
Tallinn’s Urban Environment and Public Works Department received a large number of applications in its two urban gardening grant rounds. Gardeners are placing increasing emphasis on nature-based gardening methods, circular economy principles, and innovative co-funding strategies.
This year, several innovative and smart solutions will be implemented in Tallinn’s educational gardens with the help of city funding. For example, at Tallinn's Allika kindergarten, an old stone basin will be transformed into a herb garden, while Mahtra Basic School is launching a vertical gardening project — climbing plants that produce edible fruit will be grown along the building’s wall. Many educational gardens are also establishing permaculture beds, planting berry bushes and fruit trees, and leaving parts of the garden unmown to support pollinators. In addition, several institutions are getting involved in urban beekeeping.
“It’s encouraging to see that urban gardens in Tallinn are becoming more sustainable and that there is growing awareness of the importance of the circular economy. For example, most applicants for educational garden support are composting, and for many, rainwater collection has become a standard practice — something they’re also passing on to children. Residents are clearly highly motivated and resourceful, creating gardens even in the smallest courtyards where space is limited,” said Jaanika Altraja, educational gardens project lead at the Tallinn Urban Environment and Public Works Department.
In 2025, the city is supporting the creation of new educational gardens at eight schools, kindergartens and care homes, and the further development of 83 existing gardens across various municipal properties. The total support allocated for educational gardens is €184,086. A full list of recipients is available at:
https://www.tallinn.ee/et/linnaaiandus/tallinna-linna-asutuste-oppeaedadele-rahaliste-vahendite-eraldamine-2025-aastal
In the community gardening category, Tallinn is supporting four new gardens and the development of 34 existing ones, as well as 10 urban gardening projects — with a combined total of €159,794 in funding.
Among the new community gardens are the Meriski Rändaed in Lilleküla, the Õieaed in Väike-Õismäe, the Volmre Meelteaed in Pikaliiva, and the Marienberg Community Garden in Kadriorg.
This year’s projects include a cycling tour programme that will take participants around Tallinn’s community gardens and explore key themes in sustainable gardening. Other highlights include a lecture series on lesser-known edible plants and workshops on how to grow edible mushrooms in the city.
A full list of supported community gardens, educational gardens run by private organisations, and other urban gardening projects is available at:
https://www.tallinn.ee/et/linnaaiandus/kogukonnaaedade-toetamine#eraldatud-toetused
Learn more about urban gardening in Tallinn:
www.tallinn.ee/linnaaiandus
Tallinn’s Urban Environment and Public Works Department received a large number of applications in its two urban gardening grant rounds. Gardeners are placing increasing emphasis on nature-based gardening methods, circular economy principles, and innovative co-funding strategies.
This year, several innovative and smart solutions will be implemented in Tallinn’s educational gardens with the help of city funding. For example, at Tallinn's Allika kindergarten, an old stone basin will be transformed into a herb garden, while Mahtra Basic School is launching a vertical gardening project — climbing plants that produce edible fruit will be grown along the building’s wall. Many educational gardens are also establishing permaculture beds, planting berry bushes and fruit trees, and leaving parts of the garden unmown to support pollinators. In addition, several institutions are getting involved in urban beekeeping.
“It’s encouraging to see that urban gardens in Tallinn are becoming more sustainable and that there is growing awareness of the importance of the circular economy. For example, most applicants for educational garden support are composting, and for many, rainwater collection has become a standard practice — something they’re also passing on to children. Residents are clearly highly motivated and resourceful, creating gardens even in the smallest courtyards where space is limited,” said Jaanika Altraja, educational gardens project lead at the Tallinn Urban Environment and Public Works Department.
In 2025, the city is supporting the creation of new educational gardens at eight schools, kindergartens and care homes, and the further development of 83 existing gardens across various municipal properties. The total support allocated for educational gardens is €184,086. A full list of recipients is available at:
https://www.tallinn.ee/et/linnaaiandus/tallinna-linna-asutuste-oppeaedadele-rahaliste-vahendite-eraldamine-2025-aastal
In the community gardening category, Tallinn is supporting four new gardens and the development of 34 existing ones, as well as 10 urban gardening projects — with a combined total of €159,794 in funding.
Among the new community gardens are the Meriski Rändaed in Lilleküla, the Õieaed in Väike-Õismäe, the Volmre Meelteaed in Pikaliiva, and the Marienberg Community Garden in Kadriorg.
This year’s projects include a cycling tour programme that will take participants around Tallinn’s community gardens and explore key themes in sustainable gardening. Other highlights include a lecture series on lesser-known edible plants and workshops on how to grow edible mushrooms in the city.
A full list of supported community gardens, educational gardens run by private organisations, and other urban gardening projects is available at:
https://www.tallinn.ee/et/linnaaiandus/kogukonnaaedade-toetamine#eraldatud-toetused
Learn more about urban gardening in Tallinn:
www.tallinn.ee/linnaaiandus