Landscapes, parks and nature

Landscapes, parks and nature

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.

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.

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.

Children on a snorkel safari
Children on a snorkel safari

Projects

Cornwall’s Marine Heritage Project

Your Shore worked across five Voluntary Marine Conservation Areas (VMCAs) in Cornwall to provide activities to help local people understand why they must look after the sea and its wildlife.

A group working on a stone wall

Projects

Get Into Dry Stone Walling

Disadvantaged 16-25 year olds took part in a successful training programme in dry stone walling across the North East.

Children exploring their local natural heritage
Children exploring their local natural heritage

Projects

Rose of the Shires

People learned about, recorded and became actively involved in caring for the fascinating built and natural heritage on their doorstep.

Chiltern Commons Projects
Briefing volunteers on work to be done

Projects

Chilterns Commons Project

The four-year Chiltern Commons project came to a successful conclusion having conserved habitats and historic features on 26 areas of common land.

An icon of a tree

Projects

Wild Place, Your Space

The RSPB and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority worked together on this three-year social inclusion project to reach new audiences.

Visitors at Sevenoaks' tree exhibition
Visitors at Sevenoaks' tree exhibition

Projects

Protecting Kent's heritage trees

This project has been designed to increase people’s physical access to heritage trees across Kent.

School children holding hen harrier models
School children holding hen harrier models

Projects

Helping hen harriers to thrive on moorlands

Through a programme of community engagement and learning activities, the RSPB inspired people to help conserve hen harriers across their remaining breeding strongholds in northern England.

Volunteers working on the Great Fen landscape
Volunteers working on the Great Fen landscape

Projects

Restoring our Fenland Heritage

The acquisition of Holmewood Estate, by the local wildlife trust, was a vital part of the creation of the Great Fen, one of the largest and most ambitious habitat restoration projects in Europe.

Volunteer stands in the garden holding a box of vegetables and herbs
Volunteer Jack working in the garden

Projects

Growing Together at Strawberry Hill

Volunteers and apprentices worked together to restore Horace Walpole’s 18th-century garden as a space for the whole community to learn in and enjoy.

A bee pollinating a flower

Projects

Ty Hyll bee initiative

This 18-month project focused on informing and educating about the importance of pollinators.

People on a guided walk to the Secret Garden
A guided walk to the Secret Garden in Dean Road and Manor Road Cemetery, Scarborough

Projects

Saving Scarborough's Secret Garden

Volunteers have revitalised and restored Scarborough's cemetery for local communities to discover the stories of those buried there.

Childrens activities as part of the Heathland Heritage project

Projects

Celebrating our Heathland Heritage

Highgate Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an ancient lowland heath in South Staffordshire. It is home to over 5,000 species of insects and 140 species of wasps and solitary bees.

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