NRW join forces with National Lottery Heritage Fund and Welsh Government to deliver Nature Networks Fund

We have joined forces with Welsh Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to deliver the Nature Networks Fund - a project with grand designs to strengthen the resilience of Wales’ network of protected land and marine sites and support a green recovery for nature and communities.

The Nature Networks Fund 1 was launched in March 2021 with the ambition of improving the condition and resilience of Wales’ marine and terrestrial protected sites network. Since then, grants ranging from £53,000 to £500,000 have been awarded to 29 projects tackling climate change and helping nature to thrive.

The window for the next round of applications for funding has just opened.  NRW will be focusing on supporting the NLHF and WG in the ambitious funding for nature plans through the Nature Network Fund 2 and will cease plans to develop its own Ecosystem Resilience grant programme.

The new partnership will allow NRW and our partners to focus resources on the work in hand rather than the administration of multiple grant sources.

National Lottery Heritage Fund administer the Nature Networks Fund, and in this round will offer grants from £30,000 - £1million to projects that improve the condition and connectivity of Wales’ network of protected land and marine sites.  

We will continue to work with Welsh Government to review the success of this grant programme, monitor response levels and analyse and take feedback from stakeholders to close any perceived gaps in funding. We will also review in the light of the ongoing biodiversity deep dive.  

More information on the fund can be found on the NLHF website, including how to book onto the webinar on 23rd August 10.30am-11.30am.

Nature Networks Fund (round two) | The National Lottery Heritage Fund

A reminder that NRW’s Resilient Communities Grant programme is also currently open for applications with funding available to help individuals and organisations increase community participation with nature to build resilient communities and address priorities in our Area Statements.  For more information on this see our website.

NRW is also running the National Peatland Action Programme. If you are keen to explore opportunities for peatland restoration, please contact the team at  npap@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk.