Heritage Fund: Nature Networks Fund in the UK

Deadline: 20-Sep-22

The Heritage Fund has announced the Nature Networks Fund to strengthen the resilience of Wales’ network of protected land and marine sites, supporting nature’s recovery while actively encouraging community engagement.

Improving the condition of these protected and connected sites will enable them to function better as nature networks. Nature networks are vital, resilient areas where habitats and species can thrive and expand. Restoring connectivity in these networks will:

Prevent further declines in species and habitat condition
Support nature recovery
Enhance capacity to adapt to the climate crisis

This fund will also support the active involvement of communities in and around protected sites. Strengthening engagement with nature has direct health and wellbeing benefits for people, as well as improving the resilience of the sites themselves.

Aims

This fund aims to strengthen the resilience of Wales’ network of protected land and marine sites, supporting nature’s recovery while actively encouraging community engagement.

Through round two of the Nature Networks Fund, the fund wants to support:

Action on protected or connected sites that specifically benefits the management of protected habitats and species on Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It should also demonstrate the sustainable management of natural resources across Wales. This can include action outside of protected sites that will benefit the network as a whole.
Improvements on protected sites or their connected sites that local communities are able to actively participate in, and benefit from. An aim would be to support active involvement with a diverse range of people and communities (particularly under-served groups) to increase the network of people engaged with nature, and with building the resilience of their local ecosystems.
Activity that allows organisations to build their capacity, develop their resilience and reach under-served communities.

Funding & Duration Information

Grants are from £30,000 to £250,000 and projects must be complete by 31 March 2025.
Grants between £250,000 and £1million: and projects must be complete by 31 March 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is open to all individuals and organisations working with natural heritage in Wales. This is provided that you have the right permissions, licences and consents in place to undertake activity on the protected site network or surrounding areas. The site/land you are improving must be in Wales but you/your organisation can be based anywhere in the UK.
In some cases, it may be appropriate for project work to take place in Wales but not on protected sites. For example, in projects where the focus is on training and apprenticeships, trainees may be working on different sites, but the skills they develop may be beneficial to the whole sector later on in their careers. In these cases, it is your responsibility to demonstrate the value your project will bring to the protected site network in the long-term within your application form.