Landscapes, parks and nature | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

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People landscaping in a Japanese garden in Scotland, with a mountain in the background.

Landscaping in the Japanese Garden at Cowden, Scotland. Credit: Devlin Photo Ltd.

Looking after nature and helping people to understand its importance has never been more vital.

Since 1994 we have awarded over £2.1billion of National Lottery and other funding to more than 4,900 land, nature and biodiversity projects across the UK.

Protecting the environment is one of our four Heritage 2033 investment principles. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.

We are prioritising landscape and nature projects that:

support nature’s recovery
deliver nature-based solutions to address climate change
reconnect people to landscapes, marine environments and nature

The climate crisis

The heritage sector has an important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change. Find out more about what we're doing to tackle the climate crisis.

What we expect from projects we fund

We want all kinds of heritage project, large and small, to:

limit any potential damage on the environment
make a positive impact on the environment and particularly for nature

Read our environmental sustainability guidance.

How to get funding

Our National Lottery Heritage Grants funding programme is open, providing grants from £10,000 up to £10million.

Explore our available funding

Find out more

Discover what projects we fund, and what you could do with our investment to help protect our natural world.

A child holds a butterfly while a guide smiles at him

We support projects that conserve and enhance habitats and protect and preserve the UK's precious species.

Romney Marsh

We expect successful projects to show how they will address the key challenges faced by the UK's landscapes and nature.

Green roof of cafe

Public parks are facing a severe reduction in funding from local authorities. This is how we can help your parks and urban green spaces.

Landscapes, parks and nature

The UK is world renowned for its wealth of historic designed parks, gardens and cemeteries. Here's how our funding can help look after them.

Bird's eye view of Alexandra Palace

News

Alexandra Palace saved from risk of closure thanks to £2.9million grant

London landmark is on the ‘route to recovery’ as government emergency funding for culture hits £1billion.

11/12/2020

Group of young people standing in front of river

Cody Dock

News

Nearly £40million awarded to green regeneration projects in England

68 inspiring projects have received grants from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund for wildlife conservation and nature restoration.

10/12/2020

Birds flying over a large expanse of land and water

Projects

Norfolk's Wildlife in Common

The Wildlife in Common project explored the history and importance of Norfolk’s 300-plus commons to wildlife and local communities.

22/03/2018

Holly Lewis

Blogs

Valuing the invaluable: a parks for all fund

The value of our parks has become acutely felt during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and associated lockdowns. When being outside was restricted to just one hour a day, town and city parks became the go-to place for many. Even after the strictest lockdown measures were lifted, parks became a

03/12/2020

Four children sitting

Projects

COVID19:Learning through Landscapes

Learning Through Landscapes is supporting schools during the COVID-19 crisis by engaging pupils with nature.

06/07/2020

Chantelle Lindsay outdoors enjoying nature

Exploring Trinidad and Tobago's natural heritage at Fort George, Port of Spain.

Blogs

Breaking down barriers to nature for young Black people

Throughout my life, telling people my aspirations to have a career in wildlife conservation has often been met with surprise and disbelief.

29/10/2020

RSPB NI Portmore Lough

Photo credit: Stephen Maxwell

Stories

RSPB NI set to reopen nature reserves thanks to emergency funding

Thanks to a grant of £214,900, RSPB Northern Ireland can safely reopen some visitor facilities and connect people with the nature on their doorstep.

Tony Juniper

Photo credit: Eleanor Church

Blogs

Saving the green spaces that helped us through lockdown

In laying the foundations for a green recovery, we need to ensure that environmental organisations and the partnerships they work within across England are engaged and supported. So I am delighted to see the launch of the £40million Green Recovery Challenge Fund. When the UK turned to nature The

21/09/2020

The Mournes

News

Emergency funds help protect treasured Mourne landscape

National Lottery funding will help Mourne Heritage Trust protect the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as it receives unprecedented number of visitors.

01/09/2020

Dr Anjana Khatwa

Blogs

Black and brown faces in green spaces

Since the age of 12, I have been fascinated by natural landscapes, rocks and the stories they can tell us about the history of our Earth.

19/08/2020

Alistair McNaught smiling in nature

Alistair McNaught

Blogs

Making heritage websites accessible to all

When producing our new guide to online accessibility, Alistair McNaught’s research identified how heritage organisations can make their online content open to all. He tells us more.

06/08/2020

A man helping a woman down stairs in a forest

News

Nature's helping hand: tackling isolation in care homes

It is well known that contact with nature can help people feel happier and more energised, create an increased sense of meaning and make tasks seem more manageable. “You’re not just looking at four walls. It’s getting that push to get out. It builds your stamina up and makes you feel a lot better

07/07/2020