Eligibility for Nature Conservation Grants

Who offers nature conservation grants in the UK

Many organisations in the UK fund nature conservation work. Some operate across the whole country, while others cover a single nation, region or local area. A number of funders focus on one type of work, such as woodland, wetlands, rivers or particular species, wherever it takes place.

Grant sizes vary as much as the projects they support. Small community awards can be a few hundred pounds, while larger schemes may offer sums of £100,000 or more for major habitat work. Because there are many funders, it is worth checking several sources, although suitable funding is not always available. Each funder sets its own eligibility rules, so read them carefully before you apply.

The main types of funder include:

• Government departments and their agencies
• Environmental bodies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund and other lottery distributors
• Local councils and community foundations
• Charitable trusts, wildlife charities and some businesses

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Government and national bodies

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) sets environmental policy for England. Much of its funding goes to bodies such as the Environment Agency and Natural England rather than directly to the public, so there are few chances to apply to Defra itself. Its pages on GOV.UK are a useful starting point for government schemes in England.

In England, environmental land management funding includes routes such as Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive. The Rural Payments Agency administers these schemes, with Natural England providing advice and technical support for relevant Countryside Stewardship applications. Eligibility and application arrangements vary between routes, and schemes are not always open to new applicants. A scheme may continue paying existing agreements while accepting no new ones, so check the latest official guidance before planning an application.

Outside England, check the relevant devolved government and its environment, agriculture and forestry bodies. Useful starting points include:

• NatureScot in Scotland
• Natural Resources Wales
• The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, which includes the Northern Ireland Environment Agency

These organisations offer or signpost some grants for work in their own nation, but farming and woodland funding may come through other routes. The GOV.UK Find a grant service lists some government funding that is currently open. It does not list every government or devolved scheme, or any charitable funding.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

What funders usually look at

Eligibility rules differ between schemes, but most funders check a similar set of points. Looking at these early can stop you spending time on an application that cannot succeed.

• Type of applicant: some grants are only open to registered charities, while others accept community groups, parish councils, schools, landowners or farmers. Individuals are eligible less often.
• Governance: many funders want a written constitution or set of rules, and a bank account in the organisation's name that needs more than one signatory.
• Location: local and regional grants usually only fund work within a set area.
• Fit with the funder's aims: your project needs to match what the funder wants to achieve, such as improving habitats, protecting species or involving local people in nature.
• Eligible costs: check whether the grant covers capital works, staff, equipment, surveys, overheads and VAT. VAT you can recover is commonly excluded.
• Land control: written permission from the landowner may not be enough. Some funders require a lease or management agreement that lasts beyond the funded work.
• Permissions: check whether the work needs statutory consent, planning permission or a licence for protected species. Particular operations on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, or Areas of Special Scientific Interest in Northern Ireland, may need consent from the relevant conservation authority. A grant award does not replace these permissions.
• Match funding: some schemes require a contribution from your organisation or other permitted sources. Volunteer time or other support in kind may count, but only where the funder's rules allow it.
• Cash flow: some grants reimburse money you have already spent rather than paying upfront, so you may need enough funds to cover costs in the meantime.
• Existing funding: funders rarely pay for the same costs twice, and a new grant must not conflict with any land management agreement already in place.
• Timing: most funders will not pay for work that has already started or finished. Many also expect you to wait for a formal offer or signed agreement before ordering materials or committing any spending.

Meeting the eligibility rules does not guarantee an award. Competitive schemes also judge the quality of each project and how well it fits their priorities.

Preparing a strong application

Read the guidance notes in full before you start writing. If something is unclear, many funders will answer questions by phone or email, and some offer a short eligibility check before you submit a full application.

Explain what you want to do, why it matters for nature and how you will know it has worked. Funders will usually want a realistic budget, a timetable and a plan for looking after the site once the grant ends.

Awards often come with conditions on procurement, insurance, monitoring, reporting and long term maintenance, and safeguarding where your project involves children or vulnerable adults. Keep records of how you spend the money, as funding may have to be repaid if it is not used as agreed.

For current schemes, deadlines and payment rates, use GOV.UK, the relevant devolved body or the funder's own website. Details published elsewhere can quickly go out of date.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Grant Eligibility Finder lets you tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application. Try it now →