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Landscapes, parks and nature

Nature is our oldest form of heritage.

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

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

To help ensure the impact of our investment in addressing the twin climate and ecological crises we will prioritise landscape and nature projects that:

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

The heritage sector has an important role to play in reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change. We’ve committed to working together with our sector partners to take action. Read our joint statement.

Discovering wildlife at Thatcham

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

This could include:

  • creating wildflower areas rather than close-mown grass
  • increasing tree planting and native hedgerows
  • not using peat

New environmental sustainability guidance

In May 2020 we updated our environmental sustainability guidance to help all our projects make a difference for nature.

Canisp Suilven Lock

What we fund

Thanks to National Lottery players, since 1994 we have invested £1.6billion in landscapes and nature, including more than £950m in public parks and cemeteries.

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
Grosvenor Park building funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Publications

Parks for People: case study research

Here you can find the first four of these case studies which build on findings from the rapid evidence review Space to Thrive. They demonstrate the important social value of parks in providing benefits to health and wellbeing, social integration, and connecting people with nature. The final two case