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.

A bughouse, part of the Polli:Nation project

News

Bees, boats and Brunel

Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is announcing funding of £30m towards 10 projects that reflect the diversity of the UK’s heritage. They include a far-reaching project to help protect the future of our seriously dwindling bee population, two projects which showcase Bristol as one of the major

02/04/2014

Nigel Clubb

News

HLF Wales Committee welcomes new member

The Wales Committee is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region who are chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported by the Wales HLF team

22/04/2014

Susan McCormack

News

HLF South East England Committee welcomes new member

The HLF Committee for the South East is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported by

22/04/2014

A group of convalescents in 1925

News

Discovering Cefn Ila’s habitats, hospitals and history

A new generation of local people and visitors alike will now have the opportunity to discover the built, natural and social heritage of one of Usk’s best kept secrets; Cefn Ila. The grant has been awarded to Coed Cadw - The Woodland Trust in Wales, and will enable them to restore built elements of

22/04/2014

A ‘Skills for Wildlife’ trainee hedgelaying at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve.

News

Young people are ready to start work after 'Skills for Wildlife' training scheme

The trainees were taken on as part of the Skills for Wildlife programme, which has been run across Yorkshire, Sheffield and Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The programme enabled ten young people, aged between 16 and 25, to gain a work-based diploma in

19/03/2014

Inner Forth old munitions stores

News

Forth wildlife, communities and heritage set to benefit from major funding award

The Inner Forth Landscape Initiative (IFLI) will use the funding over the next four years to help protect historic sites, connect fragmented wildlife habitats, improve access routes, and provide learning and volunteering opportunities. The IFLI will run in an area stretching from Bo’ness and Rosyth

25/03/2014

Marion Blockley

Marion Blockley

News

HLF West Midlands welcomes new committee members

The HLF Committee for the West Midlands is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported

01/04/2014

Evelyn Stacey

News

HLF South West welcomes new committee member

The HLF Committee for the South West is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional applications to the Fund from £100,000 to £2million, the committee are supported by

01/04/2014

Blondel Cluff

News

HLF London welcomes new chair and members to committee

As Chief Executive of the West India Committee, a Royal Charter charity; a Governor of the Museum of London and a Fellow of King’s College, London, Blondel will bring a diverse range of expertise to her new role. Two further new appointments to the committee have been named as Jenny Cousins and

01/04/2014

Jim Harker

News

HLF East Midlands welcomes new committee chair and member

Their appointment takes effect on 1 April and their first meeting in June 2014. The HLF Committee for the East Midlands is made up of leading figures in the heritage sector across the region chosen for their wide range of experience and local knowledge. Responsible for making decisions on regional

01/04/2014

Joff Whitten

News

HLF East of England welcomes new committee member

Joff has extensive experience working within the arts and heritage sector delivering programmes for learners of all ages and backgrounds. He is currently ACE Bridge programme manager for Norfolk and Suffolk working to connect young people with great arts, heritage and culture. The HLF Committee for

01/04/2014

The Vulcan, the world’s first iron-hulled boat

News

World’s first iron-hulled boat comes home to the Monkland Canal

The full scale replica of the Vulcan, the world’s first iron-hulled boat, arrived at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge today (Thursday 27 March) and will soon capture the imaginations of visitors as a major heritage attraction. Named for the Roman god of forge and fire, the

27/03/2014