Open Call: Peatland Restoration Sector Capacity Grant (UK)

Deadline: 23-Jul-2026

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched the Peatland Restoration Sector Capacity Grant Scheme to strengthen England’s peatland restoration workforce through skills development, apprenticeships, internships, collaboration, and capacity building. The four-year programme offers £1.15 million in funding to help organizations expand peatland restoration activities, develop workforce expertise, and increase the delivery of restoration projects across England.

The Peatland Restoration Sector Capacity Grant Scheme is a funding programme designed to increase the capacity of England’s peatland restoration sector by supporting workforce development, skills training, recruitment, and collaboration.

The scheme addresses workforce shortages and other barriers that limit peatland restoration efforts. By investing in skills, training, and organizational capacity, Defra aims to accelerate peatland restoration while supporting environmental conservation and climate resilience.

Programme Objectives

The scheme aims to:

• Increase the capacity of the peatland restoration workforce.
• Support higher rates of peatland restoration across England.
• Develop apprenticeships and internship opportunities.
• Enhance workforce skills in green finance and project management.
• Raise awareness of peatland restoration careers.
• Encourage private investment in peatland restoration projects.
• Promote collaboration between restoration organizations.
• Support shared resources and machinery.
• Prepare organizations for future Landscape Recovery projects.
• Strengthen long-term sector capacity and sustainability.

Focus Areas

The grant supports projects related to:

• Peatland restoration workforce development
• Apprenticeships
• Internships
• Skills development
• Green finance training
• Project management
• Recruitment initiatives
• Career awareness campaigns
• Private investment attraction
• Organisational collaboration
• Shared machinery use
• Machinery rings
• Landscape Recovery preparation
• Restoration delivery capacity building
• Environmental restoration
• Nature recovery
• Climate resilience

Funding Details

The scheme has a total funding value of £1,150,000 over four years, covering the period from 2026 to 2030.

Annual Budget

• 2026: £250,000
• 2027: £300,000
• 2028: £300,000
• 2029: £300,000

Maximum Grant Amount

2026 Funding Round

• Maximum grant: £20,000 per year
• Applicants may request funding for up to two years

2027 Onwards

• Maximum grant: £20,000
• Funding is limited to one year per application

Why This Grant Matters

Healthy peatlands play a vital role in carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, water management, and climate change mitigation. However, restoring degraded peatlands requires a skilled workforce and strong collaboration between organizations.

This scheme helps to:

• Expand England’s peatland restoration workforce.
• Address skills shortages in the restoration sector.
• Create new employment and training opportunities.
• Improve project planning and management.
• Encourage long-term investment in peatland restoration.
• Increase collaboration across restoration organizations.
• Accelerate environmental restoration and climate action.
• Support sustainable landscape recovery.

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be currently engaged in peatland restoration in England.
• Demonstrate the ability to deliver the objectives of the scheme.
• Show that the proposed activities will strengthen peatland restoration capacity.
• Meet the programme’s expected outcomes.

Organizations involved in peatland restoration activities and workforce development are encouraged to apply.

Eligible Activities

Funding may support activities such as:

• Creating apprenticeship programmes.
• Developing internship opportunities.
• Delivering workforce training.
• Providing green finance education.
• Building project management skills.
• Running peatland career awareness campaigns.
• Recruiting new entrants into the restoration sector.
• Encouraging private investment.
• Supporting shared machinery initiatives.
• Establishing machinery rings.
• Developing collaborative restoration partnerships.
• Preparing for Landscape Recovery projects.
• Improving organisational capacity for peatland restoration.

How the Scheme Works

The programme supports projects that strengthen workforce capacity and improve peatland restoration delivery across England.

Successful applicants will:

1. Identify workforce or capacity challenges.
2. Develop projects that improve restoration skills and delivery.
3. Recruit and train new staff through apprenticeships or internships.
4. Build expertise in project management and green finance.
5. Promote collaboration with other organizations.
6. Increase the efficiency and scale of peatland restoration activities.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants should follow these steps:

1. Confirm that your organisation is actively involved in peatland restoration in England.
2. Review the scheme objectives and funding priorities.
3. Identify workforce or organisational capacity gaps.
4. Develop a project that aligns with the programme’s goals.
5. Prepare a realistic budget within the funding limits.
6. Demonstrate how the project will improve peatland restoration delivery.
7. Submit your application during the relevant annual funding round.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Applying without current involvement in peatland restoration.
• Submitting projects that do not address workforce capacity.
• Requesting funding beyond the permitted limits.
• Providing unclear project objectives.
• Failing to demonstrate measurable outcomes.
• Ignoring collaboration opportunities.
• Presenting unrealistic budgets or timelines.
• Omitting plans for long-term sustainability.

Tips for a Strong Application

To strengthen your application:

• Clearly explain how the project will increase restoration capacity.
• Include measurable workforce development outcomes.
• Demonstrate collaboration with other organizations.
• Highlight plans for apprenticeships or internships.
• Explain how the project supports long-term peatland restoration.
• Include realistic budgets and timelines.
• Show how the project contributes to England’s environmental and climate goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the purpose of the Peatland Restoration Sector Capacity Grant Scheme?

The scheme supports workforce development, skills training, collaboration, and capacity building to increase peatland restoration across England.

2. How much funding is available?

The programme has a total budget of £1,150,000 between 2026 and 2030.

3. What is the maximum grant amount?

Applicants can apply for up to £20,000 per year. In the 2026 round, funding can cover up to two years, while from 2027 onwards, funding is limited to one year.

4. Who can apply?

Organizations that are currently engaged in peatland restoration in England and can meet the objectives of the scheme are eligible to apply.

5. What types of projects are eligible?

Projects involving apprenticeships, internships, workforce training, green finance, project management, recruitment, collaboration, machinery sharing, and peatland restoration capacity building are eligible.

6. Why is workforce development important for peatland restoration?

A skilled workforce enables larger-scale, more effective peatland restoration projects, helping protect biodiversity, improve carbon storage, and strengthen climate resilience.

7. What are the long-term goals of the scheme?

The programme aims to build a stronger peatland restoration sector, increase restoration delivery, encourage private investment, and support sustainable landscape recovery across England.

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Conclusion

The Defra Peatland Restoration Sector Capacity Grant Scheme is a valuable funding opportunity for organizations involved in peatland restoration across England. By investing £1.15 million in workforce development, skills enhancement, collaboration, and capacity building, the scheme aims to strengthen the peatland restoration sector, accelerate environmental recovery, and support long-term climate resilience and sustainable land management.

For more information, visit GOV.UK.