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.

Bolton-on-Swale St. Mary’s Primary Church of England School children, unearthing the past

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Local schools preliminary Charting Chipeling dig

Children, aged 4–11, came from Bolton-on-Swale St. Mary’s Primary Church of England School, Brompton-on-Swale Church of England and North and South Cowton Community Primary schools to dig in the grounds of the Jacobean Hall with local Archaeologist, Jim Brightman, of Solstice Heritage. Mr Brightman

22/06/2014

Dartmoor Landscape Partnership

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Moor than meets the eye

They have been working together over the last year as the Moor than meets the eye Landscape Partnership to show that there is indeed 'Moor than meets the eye' to Dartmoor. They have developed the winning scheme of 28 integrated projects which will bring important benefits for Dartmoor’s heritage. It

10/06/2014

16 to 60: A Woman's Voice - Young Roots project to discover the histroy of Pakistani, Bengali and Somali communities in Cardiff

16 to 60: A Woman's Voice - Young Roots project to discover the histroy of Pakistani, Bengali and Somali communities in Cardiff

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Young Roots offering up to £50,000 for Welsh heritage projects

Young people can get as creative as they like in interpreting what heritage means to them - previous projects have organised masquerade balls, photography exhibitions, fashion shows and even a circus performance. 11-25 year olds wanting to apply should come up with a creative idea and join up with a

09/06/2014

A nest at RSPB Minsmere

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HLF-supported RSPB Minsmere to host Springwatch

BBC Two’s Springwatch will be based at RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk this year. The series, which starts tonight, will follow the fortunes of the nature reserve’s diverse wildlife over the next three weeks. Minsmere is home to rare birds, historical woodlands and stunning coastal scenery. The RSPB has

26/05/2014

The Brecks landscape

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'Breaking New Ground' a new HLF Landscape Partnership scheme for The Brecks

Following the second-round application for HLF Landscape Partnership funding submitted in November 2013, Suffolk County Council and the Breaking New Ground Landscape Partnership Board are delighted to announce that the HLF has confirmed the award of £1,460,000 towards a £2.2m scheme to deliver a

18/03/2014

Restoring the bells at St James the Great church in Barrow

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Love Barrow, Love Heritage

Over the past 20 years, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has invested £8m into conserving Barrow’s heritage and helping local people explore their past. Sara Hilton, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “Barrow-in-Furness is packed to the rafters with some wonderful heritage. From

10/06/2014

Part of the Loch Leven Heritage Trail

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Unlocking the Loch

For the first time, people can make a complete circuit of Loch Leven, Kinross-shire, on a trail which links a wide range of cultural and historical sites. The path was officially ‘unlocked’ by Dame Seona Reid, Deputy Chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Chair of the Scotland Committee. The opening

30/05/2014

A poolscape in the Highlands

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Scotland's Flow to the Future to tackle climate change

A £9.6million pound project that will make one of the most significant contributions to the UK’s climate change targets has today been given full grant approval of more than £4million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Flow to the Future project, co-ordinated by the Peatlands Partnership, is a

03/06/2014

Raphael Park

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Celebrating 110 years of Raphael Park

The £1.87million restoration work on Raphael Park was completed just in time for the 110th anniversary of the much-loved park. It was first opened on 2 June 1904 by Sir Herbert Raphael MP, who gave the park to the district of Romford – and exactly 110 years to the day, members of the public came

04/06/2014

Selby High School Gardening and Cooking Club

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'Not Just Puddings and Parkin' at Selby High School

Students from the Let’s Get Cooking and Growing Club will investigate traditional Yorkshire food heritage and look at Yorkshire farming, fishing, food production and preservation methods. They will research and recreate traditional Yorkshire dishes using time honoured recipes and cooking techniques

30/04/2014

The newly regenerated Dock Park

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Dock Park receives Royal visitors

The Earl and Countess were greeted by the Maxwellton High School band playing the national anthem on the newly refurbished nineteenth century bandstand. Their visit included meeting some of the people responsible for the regeneration of Dock Park which was funded by Dumfries and Galloway Council

20/05/2014

The 360 Observatory at Cors Dyfi

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Official Launch of the 360 Observatory, Cors Dyfi

It has taken four years of planning, preparation and construction to realise the dream of creating this magnificent wildlife watching observatory. This iconic addition to the reserve will allow visitors to connect with the wildlife of the Dyfi in a much more exciting and fun way. The building itself

15/05/2014