Wales offers nature grants of up to £1m on protected sites
© TIm Scrivener A Nature Networks Fund that offers grants of between £30,000 and £1m for nature-based projects in Wales has opened for applications.
The fund seeks to support projects that will improve the condition of protected sites and help them function better as nature networks, boosting habitats and species.
Eligible sites are special areas of conservation, special protection areas and other sites of special scientific interest.
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The scheme is open to all individuals and organisations working with natural heritage in Wales, so long as they have the right permissions to undertake their proposed activity on the protected site.
For grants of between £30,000 and £250,000, the application deadline is 12pm on 19 October 2022.
The grants can cover capital costs of buying items such as trees, fencing, machinery or computer software, along with consultant fees or planning application costs.
Applications can also include funding requests for revenue costs, such as staff time, room hire and activity costs.
Applications must be made via an online application portal.
Larger grants
Applicants for a grant of between £250,000 and £1m are asked initially to complete an expression of interest form by 12pm on 20 September 2022.
If the proposal looks promising, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application by 7 December 2022.
The fund is being administered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.
Further details are available on the Nature Networks Fund section of the Heritage Fund website.