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Funding available for Local Nature Recovery (United Kingdom)

Deadline: 06-Jan-2025

The Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment funds local nature recovery projects run by community groups and not-for-profit organisations in Oxfordshire, and projects which increase species recording in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Nature’s recovery is one of TOE’s top priorities. TOE aims to support the delivery of a range of local and strategic projects which will deliver against the county’s priorities as stated in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). This aims to improve, expand and connect habitats to address the decline in wildlife. The LNRS takes existing protected sites to be the best areas for wildlife, and the core of any network, but wider action is needed to support nature’s recovery by extending and linking these existing sites to support wildlife. They provide grants to projects which promote and enhance wildlife habitats and species by creating new areas that increase the biodiversity resource and improve the way land is managed.

Additionally, providing wider environmental benefits for people is also key to the LNRS and They support projects in Oxfordshire’s towns and villages which have volunteers and the local community at their heart, eg community orchards, community gardens, citizen science projects involving species surveys by volunteers.

Funds are also available for projects which create new and/or improve existing public access to urban green spaces and Oxfordshire’s countryside help people to better connect with their local environment.

Funding Information
  • The majority of grants awarded from TOE’s Local Environment Fund are up to £15,000.
Eligible Projects
  • Location of Projects: With the exception of the TVERC Recorders’ Fund which covers Berkshire and Oxfordshire, TOE’s priority is to support projects located in Oxfordshire. However, consideration can be given to projects which straddle the county boundary or which benefit communities in Oxfordshire and its immediate neighbourhood. TOE is keen to see its funds distributed across the county; They are unlikely to support several projects within one community. Projects to be funded through the Landfill Communities Fund must be less than 10 miles from a registered landfill site.
  • Access requirements: TOE’s Local Environment Fund generally only supports projects at sites where there is some level of public access. Please note that any projects funded through the Landfill Communities Fund there must be public access for everyone in the community for a minimum of 104 days per year which is interpreted as 2 days or 4 evenings a week. The only exception is for biodiversity projects which address the needs of a priority habitat or species. Such projects can take place on private land with no public access.
  • Community involvement: The community needs to lie at the heart of the projects They support. Please ensure that there has been effective community consultation resulting in widespread support for the project and good involvement of volunteers during the delivery phase and afterwards. They believe that the best projects are those in which the project applicants have a financial stake in their project as this demonstrates wider community support. TOE cannot accept applications from projects which might result in local disagreement so please ensure that any areas of potential conflict are resolved prior to submitting an application.
  • Ongoing management
    • TOE seeks to fund projects which are sustainable into the future and They need to know:
      • How the project will be managed in the long term. Biodiversity projects should have a site management plan. TOE may be able to provide advice so do get in touch if this would be helpful.
      • Where the funds will come from to manage the project into the future.
      • Who will undertake ongoing management in the future.
      • The succession planning in place to ensure your organisation will have the capacity to manage the project effectively in the longer term.
Ineligible Projects
  • They cannot fund projects which fulfil a statutory requirement or a requirement of planning permission.
  • Most projects funded by TOE should involve capital works to improve a site. They do not fund revenue costs or overheads alone, but can support a small proportion of administration costs which are directly related to the delivery of practical projects.
  • They do not to fund the production of leaflets.
  • They do not fund bird seed or other food used to attract species in survey work.
Eligibility Criteria
  • TOE funds not-for-profit organisations including voluntary groups, Parish Councils, charities and Community Interest Companies. Local Authorities such as County and District Councils may also apply for grants, but TOE prefers applications to be submitted by local community groups or charities. Please note that you cannot re-apply for a grant for a project which has previously been rejected.

For more information, visit TOE.