Alongside funds from NatureScot and Esmee Fairbairn, the Heritage Fund is investing £250,000 into Investment Ready Nature Scotland, which launches today.

The partnership will help organisations develop projects that use private investment and new funding models to help finance the restoration of the Scottish natural environment.

Supporting the future of Scotland’s natural environment

Each project awarded through the scheme will contribute to restoring nature, adapting to and mitigating climate change and improving opportunities for people to access and enjoy their natural heritage.

Investment Ready Nature Scotland will also help organisations build capability to attract financial investment, address barriers to investment and build replicable and scalable business models.

The Heritage Fund has awarded the scheme £250,000 as part of its commitment to landscapes and nature and innovation partnerships.

This offers an exciting opportunity to explore ways of diversifying income for Scotland’s nature sector and building skills, capacity and resilience for the organisations who are caring for the future of our natural world in a time of immense change.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of the Heritage Fund

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of the Heritage Fund, said: “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we are delighted to support this green finance pilot scheme led by two very experienced partners.

“This offers an exciting opportunity to explore ways of diversifying income for Scotland’s nature sector and building skills, capacity and resilience for the organisations who are caring for the future of our natural world in a time of immense change."

National Lottery support for nature

Since 1994, the Heritage Fund has awarded over £1.8billion to more than 4,200 landscape, marine and nature projects across the UK.

Eilish McGuinness added: “Our natural heritage is a key priority for National Lottery Heritage Fund funding. We believe that sustaining our outstanding natural heritage, playing our part in tackling climate change and empowering as many people as possible to look after our natural world is more important than ever.”

Just recently, the Heritage Fund have announced some new investment in nature, including:

• a £5m partnership with the Wildlife Trusts for Nextdoor Nature, which will bring nature to the heart of communities across the UK
• a £2m partnership with Groundwork UK for New to Nature, which will deliver paid, nature-based work placements for young people
• £250,000 to Nature North to power nature recovery in the north of England

Find out more about Investment Ready Nature Scotland

Visit NatureScot’s website for further information about the new investment scheme.