Nature Funding

Following on from my recent Environment Forum, Anthony was asked to provide details of the funds set out as part of the Uk Government's Nature Moment - plans to restore nature and build back greener from the pandemic. 

Find below the names and ambitions of various funds. Where possible, timescales will be included and details of how to apply. 

The Sustainable Farming Incentive

The Sustainable Farming Incentive will apply to farmers. It will pay them for actions they take to manage their land in an environmentally sustainable way. Actions will be grouped into simple packages to make it as easy as possible for farmers to identify what actions are best suited to their land. All farms will be able to sign up. We’ll support these farmers to develop a whole farm plan to help make their land and their business sustainable.

Eligible farmers will need to demonstrate they are delivering:

  • Clean and plentiful water
  • Clean air
  • Thriving plants and wildlife
  • Reduction in and protection from environmental hazards
  • Adaptation to and mitigation of climate change
  • Beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment

Timescales: Due to be rolled out from mid 2022 onwards, starting with first pilot agreements

The Local Nature Recovery scheme

The Local Nature Recovery scheme will pay for actions that support local nature recovery and deliver local environmental priorities; making sure the right things are delivered in the right places. The scheme will also encourage collaboration between farmers, helping them work together to improve their local environment. This component may have elements that are competitive.

Eligible farmers & Land Managers will need to demonstrate they are delivering:
Clean and plentiful water

  • Clean air
  • Thriving plants and wildlife
  • Reduction in and protection from environmental hazards
  • Adaptation to and mitigation of climate change
  • Beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment

Timescales: Due to launch in 2024

The Landscape Recovery scheme

The Landscape Recovery scheme will support the delivery of landscape and ecosystem recovery through long-term, land use change projects, including projects to restore wilder landscapes in places where that is appropriate, large-scale tree planting and peatland restoration projects. These projects can deliver a wide variety of environmental outcomes and support local environmental priorities while making an important contribution to national targets. We expect that this component will be competitive.

  • Clean air
  • Thriving plants and wildlife
  • Reduction in and protection from environmental hazards
  • Adaptation to and mitigation of climate change
  • Beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment

Timescales: Due to launch in 2024

Green Recovery Challenge Fund

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund (GRCF) is a short-term, competitive grant fund. This aims to help support partners to kick-start a pipeline of nature-based projects that restore nature, tackle climate change and connect people with nature, whilst creating and retaining jobs in the conservation sector across England. The fund was designed at pace to respond to the urgent need to prevent job losses in the environment sector and get projects up and running to support the delivery of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

The scheme is open to environmental charities and their partners who are running projects delivering against at least one of the Fund’s three themes: 

  1. Nature conservation and restoration, including ecosystem restoration and species recovery
  2. Nature-based solutions, particularly for climate change mitigation and adaptation
  3. Connecting people with nature.

Organisations will need to demonstrate how the project will create and/or retain jobs, and develop skills, especially for young people (16-24) and/or people in areas of high unemployment that need economic investment. The GRCF is aimed at projects that are fully planned and ready for an immediate start.

Timescales -  Applications have now closed for the second round of funding, launched on 9 March 2021, and the Government expects to award grants in late June/early July.

Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme (NCPGS)

The scheme aims to restore peatland, abate carbon, and provide wider natural benefits. Helping to deliver the UK’s Net Zero target for carbon emissions by 2050 and the Government’s 25-year plan by contributing to the Nature Recovery Network.
The scheme will also seek to leverage private finance.

This scheme is open to a range of environmental groups and organisations to fund large/ landscape-scale applications that will restore whole hydrological units of peatlands, and partnerships are encouraged. 

Timescales: Grants have closed for restoration projects, with the first round of discovery grants will open for applications later in the year. Full details of the scheme and how to apply can be found here.

Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTFC)

This seeks to provide further investment to support the planting and establishment of individual trees in urban areas. 

The UTCF is open to anyone who wants to plant trees in urban or peri-urban areas, as long as you have full management control or consent to use the land for the duration of your agreement and your planting location is within an urban area

Timescales: The application window is now open and closes at 23:59 on 25 July 2021. Full details can be found here. 

Local Authority Treescape Fund

This seeks to help Local Authorities deliver strategic planting and natural regeneration of trees outside of woodlands for the benefit of local communities and nature.

Funding is available to all local authorities, via applications led by top tier authorities. Local authorities are strongly encouraged to work with otherorganisations, NGOs, community groups and private individuals to deliver tree planting and natural regeneration.

Timescales: Applications are currently closed. 

England Woodland Creation Offer

A major new woodland creation grant, this scheme seeks to create over 10,000 hectares of new woodland over the lifetime of the grant. The grant will provide both greater financial incentives to plant and maintain trees and offer greater recognition of the benefits provided by woodland to people and nature.