Together the projects will create and restore over 3,300 hectares of critical habitat on land and rivers across England.

Communities, charities, farmers and local authorities will come together to help safeguard areas for biodiversity and create green jobs. The fund is expected to help achieve the government’s ambitious targets to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Defra again to distribute funding for these projects, which will support nature recovery by helping to boost the quality and quantity of wildlife-rich habitats across England. This partnership will further our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.” 

Some of the successful projects

Species Survival in Hertfordshire’s Chalk Rivers

Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust – awarded £1,723,840

This project will restore chalk river habitats in the River Lea Catchment. Chalk rivers are a type of lowland river, with clear waters and diverse plant life. They can support a range of invertebrates and fish, from trout and salmon to white-clawed crayfish and mayflies.

The project will improve habitat for over 109 different species and will provide various volunteering opportunities.

Species & Habitat Recovery in the Medlock Valley

Groundwork Greater Manchester – awarded £1,129,516

The funding will support the restoration of a range of grassland, riverbank, wetland and woodland habitats that benefit species such as willow tit, waxcaps and rare great crested newts. The project will also work with volunteers to connect local communities to nature as part of their everyday lives.

North west and south west Rainforest Restoration

The Woodland Trust – awarded £2,696,680

This partnership project will manage and restore around 580 hectares of ancient woodland and temperate rainforest habitats across the north west and south west of England. Temperate rainforests are incredibly rare and support lichen, fungi and animals like the wood warbler, pied flycatcher and stoat.

There will be opportunities for local landowners and communities to get involved through training, surveying and demonstration events, plus small grants to private landowners for restoration work.

Our commitment to nature recovery

The Species Survival Fund builds upon the success of similar initiatives like the Green Recovery Challenge Fund. It will also help projects to get in a good position to apply for long-term, large-scale habitat restoration through Heritage 2033 investment or government schemes such as Landscape Recovery.

Find out more

See all of the projects that have been funded.