Bupa and Landcare Australia have proudly announced the recipients of the 2026 Healthy Cities Landcare Grants Program, who will deliver community-led native planting projects in urban and peri-urban areas across Australia.
Building on the success of the program in 2025, this year’s grants will support 31 projects across all states and territories to plant more than 100,000 native trees, shrubs and groundcovers to restore local environments, strengthen biodiversity and create greener, healthier spaces for communities to enjoy.
The Healthy Cities Landcare Grants Program forms part of Bupa’s Healthy Cities initiative, which is focused on improving outcomes for both people and the planet by supporting healthier environments and more connected communities.
In 2025, the program supported the planting of 123,166 native trees, shrubs and groundcovers, while more than 6,200 people participated in caring for the environment through 188 community events across Australia. These activities helped restore urban biodiversity and wildlife habitat while bringing communities together to improve the places where they live.
The 2026 recipients continue that momentum, bringing together community groups to deliver practical, locally led projects that will contribute to healthier environments and more liveable urban communities.
Funded projects include:
- Burwood, VIC: Urban Guerrillas will create a biodiversity haven at Gardiners Creek for gang-gang cockatoos, rakali and the local community.
- Port Melbourne, VIC: Westgate Biodiversity will create a biodiversity hotspot at Westgate Park for insects and birds.
- Macquarie Park, NSW: Friends of Lane Cove National Park will be inspiring community to connect with nature.
- Aspley, QLD: Rainbow Lorikeet Park Bushcare Group will restore native habitat in Aspley parks, benefiting residents, visitors and wildlife.
- O’Halloran Hill, SA: Friends of Glenthorne will extend revegetation in Glenthorne National Park, improving the urban environment.
- Brighton, TAS: Brighton Council will reconnect native habitat at Brighton’s major public park.
- Weston Creek, ACT: Southern ACT Catchment Group will restore native habitat across Southern Canberra’s urban parks to strengthen biodiversity, resilience and community stewardship.
- Freds Pass, NT: Freds Pass Sport and Recreation Management Board will revitalise Freds Pass Dye Garden as an accessible native landscape.
- Morley, WA: City of Bayswater will restore native biodiversity and wildlife connectivity at Arbor Park through planting, weeding and ongoing monitoring.
Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish, said “The Healthy Cities Landcare Grants Program continues to demonstrate what can be achieved when communities are supported to take practical action for their local environment.
“We’re proud to work with Bupa again in 2026 to help community-led projects create healthier, greener and more biodiverse places across Australia. Importantly, these projects are about more than putting plants in the ground. They bring people together, strengthen connections with nature and create lasting benefits for communities and local environments.
“We congratulate all of this year’s grant recipients and look forward to seeing the impact their projects will have in communities across the country.”
Bupa Asia Pacific Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Roger Sharp said “At Bupa, we recognise that the health of people and the health of our planet are closely connected. Through our Healthy Cities initiative, we’re proud to continue supporting local organisations and communities taking practical action to improve the places where people live, work and connect.
“The 2026 grant recipients demonstrate the positive impact that can be achieved at a local level, creating greener spaces that support biodiversity while providing more opportunities for people to get outdoors, be active and connect with nature and one another.”
Find out more here.