Toddler in a garden
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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Credit: David Cheskin

Landscapes, parks and nature

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Landscapes, parks and nature

Landscapes, parks and nature

Looking after nature and helping people to understand its importance has never been more important.

Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have awarded over £1.8billion to more than 4,200 land, nature and biodiversity projects across the UK.

Funding landscapes and nature is one of our key strategic funding priorities until 2024. 

We are prioritising landscape and nature projects that:

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

Discovering wildlife at Thatcham

Climate change

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

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 more about our environmental sustainability requirements.

Read our environmental sustainability guidance.

Canisp Suilven Lock

Find out more

Discover what projects we fund, and what you could do with our investment.

Habitats and species

Butterfly

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

What we fund

Landscapes

Romney Marsh

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

What we fund

Public parks and urban green spaces

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.

What we fund

Gardens and cemeteries

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

What we fund
Three people sitting on a picnic table in an urban greenspace, building wooden birdboxes with hammers
Drew Bennellick building birdboxes with the London Wildlife Trust team. Credit: Broni Lloyd-Edwards

Blogs

Green Futures: art, drone shows and the spectacle of nature

Drew Bennellick, our Head of Land & Nature Policy, reflects on how we have supported the UK’s City of Culture to embrace a green future.
People planting trees

Basic Page

How we're tackling climate change

In our corporate plan we have committed to play our part in tackling climate change – both within our organisation and in our grant giving.
Drew Bennellick

Blogs

The importance of funding nature

To celebrate the start of Love Parks Week, our Head of Land & Nature Policy, Drew Bennellick, discusses the benefits of green spaces and why we fund them.
Three people standing underneath a big palm tree in a conservatory
Frankie Toner, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at National Lottery Heritage Fund with Simon Milne MBE, Regius Keeper and Emma Lacroix, Director of Development at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Credit: David Cheskin

News

£4million to save Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's iconic glasshouses

The investment will also help to look after rare, extraordinary plants, encouraging visitors of all ages to care about the environment.
Three men leaning on railing, looking at each other
Minister for Heritage, Nigel Huddleston, at YHA Ironbridge Coalport with Manager and Deputy Manager Ben Platt (left) and Andrew Philipson (right).

News

Charity YHA awarded almost £1million from the Culture Recovery Fund

The organisation – which provides hostel stays and experiences to improve mental and physical wellbeing for young people – is receiving a financial boost to help it recover from the pandemic.
Three people walking in woodland
Simon Thurley, Chair of the Heritage Fund, walking between Chantelle Lindsay and Bobbi Benjamin-Wand, from London Wildlife Trust, at Camley Street Natural Park in London. Image © Broni Lloyd-Edwards.

News

£5million to improve access to nature and combat climate change

We’re partnering with The Wildlife Trusts to bring nature to the heart of communities across the UK, as part of our Platinum Jubilee legacy investment.
People dancing as part of a cultural festival at the Birmingham Commonwealth games

Videos

What do we mean by heritage?

If you need inspiration for your heritage project idea, our team in the Midlands & East has set out to answer: ‘what exactly is heritage?’
People swimming and playing in the Jubilee Pool
Opening of the geothermal pool

Stories

Case study: Penzance Jubilee Pool

Penzance's Jubilee Pool won the Sustainable Project of the Year Award at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2021
Field Cricket nymph basking at burrow entrance to promote moulting
Field Cricket (Gryllus campestris) nymph basking at burrow entrance to promote moulting. Sussex, UK. April

News

Bringing England’s species Back from the Brink of extinction

As Back from the Brink draws to a close, we look at how this game-changing conservation programme has helped turn the tide for some of England’s most threatened species.