How to consider environmental sustainability in your heritage project

How to consider environmental sustainability in your heritage project

Climate change is already impacting our society, our natural environment and our heritage.

We want all the projects we fund to reduce the effects of the climate crisis, assist places and people to adapt to our changing planet, and to support nature’s recovery across the UK.

We expect them all to have a positive impact on our environment and we factor a project’s environmental impact into our decision making.  

We expect to see environmental sustainability embedded into applicants' decision making.

This applies to all projects – whether our funding is supporting an entire landscape, regeneration of a local park, a museum refurbishment or bringing a community together.

What we expect from projects

To reach our environmental sustainability requirement, we expect all projects we fund to:  

  • limit any potential damage to the environment  
  • make a positive impact on the environment and particularly for nature  

Including environmental sustainability within your project right from the beginning will mean your project is likely to be more resilient, financially sustainable and have multiple benefits for people and the community.  

We expect to see environmental sustainability embedded into applicants' decision making. You should also think about how to measure your environmental sustainability and ensure that this is part of your evaluation strategy.

Essential links

An oyster in the water
Oysters are being restored to Conwy Bay.

Projects

Restoring the habitats of wild oysters in Conwy Bay

ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and Bangor University are restoring native oyster habitats in Conwy Bay to improve marine biodiversity, increase coastal resilience and re-connect people with their coastal heritage.

Two people are stood in front of the new bridge in Faughan Valley woodlands. Next to them is a sign to introduce the woodlands and has the Heritage Fund logo on it.
Northern Ireland Committee Chair Mukesh Sharma with Denise Murphy from The Woodland Trust at the new footbridge, which links Brackfield and Red Brae Woods.

Projects

Faughan Valley’s ancient woodlands open to the public

The Woodland Trust project is reconnecting people with the outdoors by using trees and woodlands to build a resilient landscape that’s a haven for wildlife.

An outdoor landscape with trees and a waterfall
Nant Methan waterfall, part of the Celtic Rainforest in the Elan Valley

Projects

Saving rare Celtic Rainforest in the Elan Valley

People in Radnorshire will have better access to an area of temperate rainforest – an extremely rare habitat which will be better protected and managed.

Visitors taste food made with ingredients found in hedgerows at The Food Museum
Visitors take part in food recipe demonstrations, tasting ingredients found in hedgerows.

Stories

Case study: The Food Museum – Hedgerow

Sustainable Project of the Year joint winner, The Food Museum shares their experience of running a project that tackles one of our greatest environmental challenges – biodiversity loss.