Nature Restoration Fund

How to apply

The Nature Restoration Fund is for capital projects only.

A total of £300,000 is available this year to support projects that meet the fund’s eligibility criteria. Read all sections on these pages before applying to ensure your project is eligible.

The fund is open to accept applications from now and will close 23 January 2026. There will be three rounds of decision-making during this time when applications will be considered. If the total available allocation is committed before the closure date, the fund will close. Information on the website will be updated to notify applicants.

A completed application form does not guarantee that it will be successful. Officers will assess your proposal on technical eligibility and the biodiversity impact it will deliver. Projects must score well in the biodiversity, environmental and legacy of the assessment criteria. If there are any issues with your application, an officer will be in touch with feedback.

There are three submission deadlines for when to submit applications for each decision-making date. Officers require a reasonable amount of time to assess your project before it is considered. The key dates are as follows:

• round 1 – Submit by midday on 3 October 2025 for a decision by early November
• round 2 – Submit by midday on 21 November 2025 for a decision by mid December
• round 3 – Submit by midday on 23 January 2026 for a decision by mid February

You are only required to:

• complete the application form 
• submit a copy of a recent bank statement
• submit a copy of your latest annual accounts
• a Fair Work First policy statement

Failure to provide these will delay the application being considered, and it may have to be deferred to the next decision-making round.

Grant awards are available from a minimum of £2,000 up to a maximum of £25,000.

An intervention rate of up to 100% is possible; however, we would expect to see a good level of in-kind contribution

If awarded funding, applicants are required to submit further documentation to support the application. This will be advised upon receipt of an offer of grant letter.

Nature Restoration application documents