From building bat towers to providing training in countryside management, the funding will help people develop the skills needed to support nature’s recovery.

By connecting communities and habitats, the successful projects will improve the condition and resilience of Wales’ protected areas of land and sea, helping nature to thrive.

Supporting skills and species

National Trust Cymru is receiving £971,888 to transform the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park into a vibrant, resilient and wildlife-rich landscape.

The project aims to restore 500 hectares of habitats, reconnect fragmented ecosystems and empower people from all backgrounds to train in nature recovery.

Trainees and volunteers will get hands-on experience at a new hub, hosted at Ty Mawr farm, which will also help the wider community connect with nature through countryside skills.

Other organisations benefiting from the latest round of Nature Network Fund awards include:

• Vincent Wildlife Trust (awarded £987,929), which will work with young people to secure the future of the lesser horseshoe bat by building 20 new bat towers
• Dr Beynon's Bug Farm (awarded £643,000), which will enhance the North West Pembrokeshire Commons Special Area of Conservation and develop a 100-seater Nature Recovery Teaching Centre
• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (awarded £995,542), which will restore grassland, heathland, bog, woodland and coastal habitats alongside providing training for volunteers and landowners

We’ve distributed the grants on behalf of the Welsh Government, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

Responding to the nature emergency

Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies said: "This significant investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to protecting Wales' natural heritage.

“By supporting these 13 diverse projects across our nation, we're not only preserving precious ecosystems but also empowering communities to become stewards of their local environments.

“The Nature Networks Fund is a crucial tool in our response to the nature emergency, helping us build a more resilient Wales for future generations."

Protecting the UK’s natural heritage

See the full list of projects that have been funded in this round of Nature Network Fund awards and find out how we’re supporting nature across the UK.