Funding conservation across the UK

Over the past 25 years, The National Lottery has injected £829million into natural heritage conservation across the UK, to help protect and conserve wildlife.

This includes:

• £548m on biodiversity projects
• £227m supporting important and historic landscapes
• over 70,000 hectares of land acquisition

In addition, over £900m has been spent revitalising more than 900 public parks.

"Perhaps without even realising it, National Lottery players have hugely contributed to the UK’s fantastic range of wildlife, species and green spaces.”

- Chris Packham, wildlife expert 

Notable wildlife successes include seabird recovery on the Isles of Scilly, red squirrels making a comeback in Northern Ireland and the reintroduction of the chequered skipper butterfly in Rockingham Forest.

Thanks to National Lottery funding, three of the UK’s major wildlife charities - The Wildlife Trusts, the Woodland Trust and the RSPB - have been able to have a significant positive impact on preserving and protecting nature.

Watch Chris Packham and Jamal Edwards build a bug hotel at National Lottery funded Woodberry Wetlands in London:

Video transcript

How National Lottery players have helped

Chris Packham, taking time out from making the comfy insect residence, said:

“As Vice President of the RSPB, I see first-hand the benefit that National Lottery funding has on conserving natural habitats – not just by supporting birds but also protecting animals and insects, creating new parks and increasing urban greenery."

"Perhaps without even realising it, National Lottery players have hugely contributed to the UK’s fantastic range of wildlife, species and green spaces.”

As well as restoring and opening spaces like the Woodberry Wetlands, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has helped support endangered animals, insects, flowers and trees. Species such as bats, hedgehogs, basking sharks, red squirrels, pine martens, water voles, black grouse and the great yellow bumble bee have all benefited. 

“Young people are more conscious than ever of their impact on the natural world around them, myself included – so I am passionate about translating that into real action." 

- Jamal Edwards MBE, SB.TV founder

Money from The National Lottery has also helped projects preserve some of our most important open spaces and coastline for the future. This includes woodlands, wetlands and meadows, endangered sand dunes, threatened peat bogs and eroded upland habitats.

Jamal Edwards said: “Young people are more conscious than ever of their impact on the natural world around them, myself included – so I am passionate about translating that into real action." 

"Today I’ve learned a lot from Chris, and from The Wildlife Trusts, the Woodland Trusts and the RSPB, about how we can create change ourselves. I’ve also been amazed to find out how much funding goes to these brilliant organisations, thanks to National Lottery players."

"I never thought that buying a National Lottery ticket could not only make someone a millionaire but could also go towards saving a species or helping conserve nature in the UK.”

10 tips for supporting nature

However, wildlife is facing increasing pressures and still more needs to be done.

The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust and RSPB have joined forces with The National Lottery Heritage Fund to launch 10 tips and easy ways for people from all walks of life to help play their part in preserving and supporting wildlife.

25 years of funding for heritage

Over the past 25 years, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has been the largest dedicated grant funder of the UK’s heritage. We’ve awarded £8bn to more than 44,000 projects across the UK.