Nature Networks Fund (round six) Grant

About this grant

The Nature Networks Fund (round six) is delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh Government, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales. It aims to improve the resilience of Wales' network of protected land, freshwater and marine sites, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, National Nature Reserves, Ramsar sites and Marine Conservation Zones. It supports the Welsh Government's Nature Networks Programme and its nature recovery targets such as 30by30. The fund supports action on protected sites or the ecological networks that support them, including action outside site boundaries that benefits the network as a whole. Restoring connectivity is intended to prevent species and habitat decline, support nature recovery, enhance capacity to adapt to climate change, and improve ecosystem services. Eligible activity includes improving site condition and connectivity, improving accessibility, reaching under-served communities, and building capacity through planning, staffing, training, apprenticeships, green finance and surveys. Round six focuses on capital delivery, with a majority of funding expected to go to capital works, supported by revenue costs such as staff time, evaluation, training, and full cost recovery for voluntary sector organisations. Ineligible costs include ongoing maintenance beyond the project, land or building acquisition, large new buildings, and recoverable VAT. Applicants must include Welsh language provision and acknowledge Welsh Government funding. Projects must be evidence-based, name the sites and features benefited, and demonstrate working towards necessary permissions. Application is in two stages: an Expression of Interest followed, if invited, by a full application. Grants range from £250,000 to £1 million. Projects must complete by 31 March 2030.

Eligibility

The scheme is open to all organisations working with natural heritage in Wales. The area improved must be in Wales, but the applicant organisation may be based anywhere in the UK. Applicants must demonstrate awareness of, and work towards obtaining, the relevant permissions, licences and consents. Eligible organisations may submit only one application as lead applicant, but may be partners on others. Partners must be integral to delivery and formalised by a partnership agreement where a significant proportion of work is involved. Works on private land are permitted where public benefit clearly outweighs private gain and subsidy control rules are respected. Grant requests must be between £250,000 and £1 million. Projects must not start before a decision is made. Voluntary sector organisations may claim full cost recovery.

How it's scored

Applications are assessed on the contribution to improving condition and connectivity of the protected sites network in Wales; plans to ensure everyone has opportunities to learn, develop skills and explore nature regardless of background; whether the organisation will develop and sustain skills and capacity for the long-term future of the protected sites network; and how impact will be sustained. Where oversubscribed, priority is given to projects in areas that most strongly support Resilient Ecological Networks as evidenced by the Nature Networks Maps, and to a geographical, biodiversity and lead-organisation spread across Wales and previous rounds. Value for money and any non-cash or volunteer contributions are considered, though no match funding is required.

Key requirements

• ✓Two-stage application: Expression of Interest followed by full application if invited
• ✓Projects must name the protected sites and features benefited and be evidence-based
• ✓Must include Welsh language provision and acknowledge Welsh Government funding; projects must complete by 31 March 2030

Relevant sectors