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.

Children taking part in activities by the river edge

Children taking part in activities next to the River Eden

News

£15.6million funding boost for natural heritage across the UK

Eleven projects have been awarded a share of £15.6million National Lottery funding to support nature’s recovery – and we want to support more.

30/09/2022

Storm Troopers and Darth Vader surround a model of the Millennium Falcon

Millennium Falcon Exhibition

Stories

The National Lottery Awards 2022 are open! Who will you vote for?

Nominations for Project of the Year recognise outstanding National Lottery funded projects that are making a difference for people and heritage across the UK.

Bat flying in darkness amongst folliage

Common pipistrelle bat in flight. Bat Conservation Trust. Image credit: Hugh Clark

News

A lifeline for Scotland’s ‘species on the edge’

Urgent action to save 37 of Scotland’s most vulnerable coastal and island species is underway thanks to £4.2million funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

17/08/2022

Aerial view of a green landscape in Wales, including fields, trees, water and mist rolling in

Programme

Nature Networks Fund (round two)

This fund aims to strengthen the resilience of Wales’ network of protected land and marine sites, supporting nature’s recovery while actively encouraging community engagement.

People tend to a large street planter

Programme

Local Places for Nature – Breaking Barriers

Breaking down barriers that excluded and disadvantaged communities in Wales face when accessing nature.

A volunteer in a wheelchair using shears to do practical work in woodland. Other volunteers can be seen doing other practical tasks in the background

Volunteers in woodland doing practical work. Credit: Michael Heffernan / WTML

News

Unprecedented partnership will power nature recovery in the north of England

The ambitious Nature North project brings together eleven leading environmental organisations to deliver benefits for natural heritage and communities, thanks to National Lottery funding.

04/08/2022

Young people standing in nature with gardening tools

Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside Young Apprentices: (from left to right) Samuel Gibson, Billy Hunt, Sam Phillips and Mia Francis. Credit: Mark Waugh

News

Investing in work placements for young people in natural heritage

We’re partnering with Groundwork UK to deliver paid, nature-based work placements for young people – diversifying the sector and creating a natural legacy to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

20/07/2022

View of a river taken from in the air

River Tweed at Leaderfoot Viaduct.

News

£13.7million boost for nature, communities and culture

Six projects will help create a 'vibrant and optimistic' future for heritage across the UK.

29/06/2022

Two women working on a path at a wildlife reserve

Volunteers at Barnyards Marsh Wildlife Reserve. Credit: Alan Anderson, Scottish Wildlife Trust

Blogs

Collaborate, don’t compete, to support innovation and drive change

Hear how digital transformation is not all about technological innovation, and that bringing people together to learn from each other is one of the keys to success.

28/06/2022

A group of children sitting down in front of a row or trees, listening to someone giving a talk

Programme

The Woodland Investment Grant (round 5)

A grant scheme intended to create, restore and enhance woodlands in Wales, as part of the Welsh Government’s National Forest programme.

George the Poet

Videos

George the Poet: "celebrate nature in our day-to-day"

The award-winning spoken word performer’s poem – written for our Nextdoor Nature community rewilding initiative – urges us to appreciate and cultivate green spaces around us.

Hands holding seeds

Blogs

Nature: we can all make a difference

Chiltern Rangers managing director, John Shaw, busts five myths around looking after the nature in our cities - including the one that matters most.

27/05/2022