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Landscapes, parks and nature

Landscapes, parks and nature

People landscaping in a Japanese garden in Scotland, with a mountain in the background.
Looking after nature and helping people to understand its importance has never been more vital.

Since 1994 we have awarded over £2.2billion of National Lottery and other funding to 5,100 land, nature and biodiversity projects across the UK. 

Protecting the environment is one of our four Heritage 2033 investment principles. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. 

We are prioritising landscape and nature projects that:

  • support nature’s recovery
  • deliver nature-based solutions to address climate change
  • reconnect people to landscapes, marine environments and nature

The climate crisis

The heritage sector has an important role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change. Find out more about what we're doing to tackle the climate crisis.

What we expect from projects we fund

We want all kinds of heritage project, large and small, to:

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

Read our environmental sustainability guidance.

How to get funding

Our National Lottery Heritage Grants funding programme is open, providing grants from £10,000 up to £10million.

Explore our available funding

Find out more

Discover what projects we fund, and what you could do with our investment to help protect our natural world.

A child holds a butterfly while a guide smiles at him

 

We support projects that conserve and enhance habitats and protect and preserve the UK's precious species.

Habitats and species

Romney Marsh

We expect successful projects to show how they will address the key challenges faced by the UK's landscapes and nature.

Landscapes

Green roof of cafe

Public parks are facing a severe reduction in funding from local authorities. This is how we can help your parks and urban green spaces.

Public parks and urban green spaces

The UK is world renowned for its wealth of historic designed parks, gardens and cemeteries. Here's how our funding can help look after them.

Gardens and cemeteries
The view from Hall Ings to Norfolk Gardens.
Bradford's project will connect communities across the city and nearby towns with nature. Credit: SWECO.

News

Nature Towns and Cities launches with £15million investment

We’re supporting 40 towns and cities across the UK to improve and create accessible green spaces, streets and neighbourhoods.
Five people, including three children are using nets
Jan Hogarth from the SCAMP Landscape Connections team and our Director for Scotland, Caroline Clark, in Powfoot with young 'Coastodians', Emily, Shane and Jack.

News

Scotland’s Solway Firth is our first Landscape Connections project

Led by Dumfries and Galloway Council, this long term, large-scale project is part of our 10-year strategic initiative supporting the UK’s world-class landscapes.
Three people standing in a field of wild flowers, one is bending down touching the flowers
Drew Bennellick, our Head of Land, Sea and Nature, and Harriet Bennett, Land Management Officer for the Chilterns Landscape Partnership project, with Andrew Stubbings, of Manor Farm, an example of a connected landscape. Photo: Oliver Dixon.

News

£150million funding to enhance and protect the UK’s world-class landscapes

Our strategic initiative, Landscape Connections, will support long-term projects to boost nature recovery and connect more people to our most treasured landscapes.
People walking in a park
Parks for Health project Camden and Islington. Credit: Islington Council.

Basic Page

Future Parks Accelerator

An initiative set up to secure the future of the UK’s urban parks and green spaces.
A drone view over the West of Loch Lomond. There are forests and a body of water.
The project covers an area over twice the size of Glasgow. Credit: Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.

Projects

Restoring Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park's rarest woodlands

This Landscape Connections project is protecting some of Scotland's most important habitats, while creating new opportunities for local communities and rural economies.

An aerial view over Chatsworth gardens.
The survey will help to provide an understanding of the current picture and drive the creation of new guidance. Credit: Historic England Archive.

News

Tell us: is your historic park or garden prepared for the climate crisis?

We’re asking the thousands of owners and managers of historic landscape parks and gardens across the UK to take part in a new survey about how the climate crisis is affecting the places you care for.
Cattle grazing in the landscape at Steart Marsh
Cattle grazing at Steart Marsh. Credit: Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.

Projects

Wetter for Waders: enhancing Somerset's coastal wetlands

This project has restored and improved more than 370 hectares of coastal and floodplain grazing marsh and freshwater habitats, supporting over 500 species of plants and animals.

Celebrating dance at Newham Heritage Month
Newham Heritage Month events celebrated the intangible cultural heritage of the borough's communities including Bharatnatham dance. Credit: K J Martin.

News

Celebrating the stories of London boroughs

From Kingston to Barnet, we’ve supported communities across the area to connect with the diverse heritage on their doorstep.
A view of the now-destroyed tree at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall.
Preventing acts of criminal damage to heritage sites is a critical concern. Photo: Gordon Leggett, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Stories

Crime, AI and innovation: what our heritage sector surveys revealed in 2025

Our new UK Heritage Pulse research investigates the impact of crime on heritage settings. It’s the latest insight from our conversations to understand the views and experiences of our sector.
A group of men and women in high vis jackets and outdoor attire gather around a newly built bench on a wooded hillside.
A community group build benches as part of the Lost Peatlands project. Photo: Neath Port Talbot Council.

Stories

Grantee Q&A: how to build a compelling project narrative

Richy Pulman from Neath Port Talbot council shares lessons learned during its Landscape Connections project – from how to make your application easy to understand, to the importance of asking for help.
A remote, contemporary bird-watching tower in the middle of vast wetlands. Across a wooden causeway, two birdwatchers depart the tower.
Forsinard Flows Nature Reserve, in the Flow Country UNESCO World Heritage Site, Scotland. Photo: Euan Myles / RSPB.

News

80 years of UNESCO: how our funding protects globally important heritage sites

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, we’ve invested more than £1billion in heritage projects of all shapes and sizes throughout the UK’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Biospheres and Geoparks.
Groups of people sat on a field conducting tests.
Attendees have come together to trial tests on landscapes. Credit: www.bats.org.uk.

Projects

Connecting people and landscapes in a changing climate

This ambitious project will work with Devon farmers and the local community to support nature recovery.

If you query is regarding our application portal, please contact our support team.