Landscapes, parks and nature

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

Since 1994 we have awarded £2billion to 4,700 land, nature and biodiversity projects across the UK.

Protecting the environment is one of our four Heritage 2033 investment principles.

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

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 more about our environmental sustainability requirements.

Read our environmental sustainability guidance.

Discovering wildlife at Thatcham

Find out more

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

Habitats and species

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

What we fund

Landscapes

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

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, gardens and cemeteries. Here's how our funding can help look after them.

What we fund

Publications

Racial equity in nature toolkit

The Heritage Fund's guide to recruiting and nurturing diverse early career talent.

Publications

Environmental sustainability guidance

What we expect from our projects – advice and ideas on how your project can help tackle the climate and ecological emergencies.

Hub

How to consider environmental sustainability in your heritage project

We expect the highest standards of environmental sustainability in all the projects we fund – and there are lots of ways to get started.

Parks for Health project Camden and Islington.

Basic Page

Future Parks Accelerator

An initiative set up to secure the future of the UK’s urban parks and green spaces.

The ship SS Great Britain in its dry dock

SS Great Britain Trust jointly won the sustainability award in 2023.

News

Could you be Sustainable Project of the Year 2024?

Enter the sustainability category for the Museums + Heritage Awards to showcase your approach to managing or communicating the impact of the climate crisis.

01/11/2023

Two people sit with the National Lottery award in Hartwood Paupers Cemetery

Members of the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery with their National Lottery Award for Scotland Project of the Year.

News

Success for heritage projects in the National Lottery Awards

Leaders from three projects we’ve funded have taken home a prize this year, and there’s still more announcements to come.

27/10/2023

Musicians playing Latin American folk music

Programme

National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £3,000 to £10,000

A funding programme for projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players. Grants available from £3,000 to £10,000.

Adults with complex care needs in a garden

It can be hard for people with complex disabilities and medical conditions to access nature and heritage.

Projects

Sense’s project blossoms in National Trust gardens

‘Internal Gardens’ used wearable technology to help people with complex disabilities create tactile connections with natural heritage.

28/04/2022

The Horniman Museum featuring a clock tower stands tall behind greenery

The clock tower of the Horniman Museum

News

Visit our Habitats of Hope exhibition at the Horniman Museum

From 30 November–10 December we are showcasing inspiring heritage projects that have enabled the survival of some of the UK’s rarest animal species, thanks to National Lottery support.

30/11/2023

A person walks on a path under trees and next to a lake in summer

Improving access to parks and green space.

News

Two awards for a programme putting nature at the heart of thriving urban places

The Future Parks Accelerator programme, a joint initiative with the National Trust, has won Social Project of the Year and the prestigious Overall Project of the Year Award.

21/11/2023

Three people are looking at worksheets and smiling.

Participants at the residential event in June 2023, as part of Heritage Trade Up.

Stories

Five tips for more robust and innovative heritage organisations

Hear from the organisations who took part in our Business Support and Enterprise campaign about how they improved organisational resilience in challenging times.

Three people sit on the edge of a loch in Scotland, with a boat in the background and the award in front of them

Danny Renton (left) and members of the Seawilding team with their National Lottery Award.

Projects

Seawilding – restoring native oysters and seagrass in Loch Craignish

The UK’s first community-led native oyster and seagrass restoration project is aiming to restore lost biodiversity to the Scottish coastline.

05/03/2020

A flying bat in the roof space of a church

A Natterer's bat flying inside the roof of St Lawrence church, Radstone. Credit: Chris Damant, Bernwood Ecology.

Stories

All creatures great and small: helping church communities care for their bats

The Bats in Churches project helped over 100 ancient churches in England with their resident bats, bringing communities together and learning more about our threatened bat species.

Group of people wearing hard hats in a courtyard of historic building, Alice Billings House in Stratford

Alice Billings House. Includes Newham’s Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz, Taryn Nixon and Selina Papa from the Heritage Fund, Creative Land Trust and Purcell’s team.

News

£800,000 funding awarded to support Newham’s heritage

From restoring an 1880s playhouse to creating a cycling heritage trail, projects across Newham will celebrate its diverse community heritage and create pride in place.

25/10/2023