Natural heritage across the UK receives extra funding boost

Eleven projects across the UK have been awarded a share of £15.6million National Lottery funding to support nature’s recovery.

Because of the dry summer and the impact on the UK’s rivers and lakes, some of the funding has been provided to waterways across the country. Over £5 million will benefit River Sherbourne in Coventry, the River Leven in Fife, the River Eden in Cumbria, Devon’s Stover Park and wetlands located within the South Downs National Park.

£10.5 million will go to boosting landscapes, including Haigh Woodland Park in Woodland, the Lost Woods of Low Weald and Downs in Sussex and to restore habitats for pollinators across Belfast thanks to the organisation, Buglife. Green and natural spaces in cities will also benefit, with Nunhead Cemetery in Southwark, London among those earmarked for funding.

Speaking about the latest funding round, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Chief Executive, Eliish McGuinness, said: “I’m delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, we are supporting projects which recognise the vital role of rivers and lakes as the lifeblood and heartland of communities. These projects, as well as a raft of others, focused on our woodlands, parks and gardens, will help to ensure our national heritage is preserved and enhanced for the benefit of all.”

Since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £1.8 billion to more than 4,200 land and nature projects across the UK. This latest round of 11 projects will protect nature and inspire communities to play a vital role in securing a thriving future for Britain’s natural world.

The eleven projects awarded in this round are:
Access to Eden, The Eden Rivers Trust
Beckford’s Tower, Beckford Tower Trust
Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society
Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan Council
Leven River Park, Green Action Trust
Lost Woods of Low Weald and Downs, The Woodland Trust
Nunhead Cemetary, Southwark Council
Polinator Highways, Buglife
Restoring Stover Park, Devon County Council
Sherbourne Valley Project, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
South Downs National Park, South Downs National Park Trust

The National Lottery Heritage Fund want to support more natural heritage projects. They are asking that anyone who has a project idea that can help combat the effects of climate change and support nature’s recovery to get in touch with them.

Drew Bennellick, Head of Land and Nature Policy at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Thriving, healthy and connected natural heritage is essential to all our future and is our best defence in addressing the impacts of climate change on all forms of heritage. We are keen to support projects of all sizes that support nature’s recovery, deliver nature-based solutions to address the climate crisis and help people reconnect to nature.”

Find out how you can get involved and apply for funding here.