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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.
Landscaping in the Japanese Garden at Cowden, Scotland Credit: Devlin Photo Ltd
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.

Butterfly

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

What we fund
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
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

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
Illustrated map showing 58 UK UNESCO sites
The UNESCO illustrated map, showing 58 heritage sites across the UK.

Projects

UNESCO launch a new illustrated map of the UK’s top heritage sites

Designed by Birmingham-based creative cartographer Tom Woolley, the map shows all 58 sites, cities and natural landscapes, helping to bring to life the huge variety of heritage on people’s doorsteps.

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.

Butterflies on flowers growing in hedgerows on Manor Farm, Surrey

Programme

Species Survival Fund

A short-term programme to create and restore habitats and reverse the decline of species across England, delivered on behalf of Defra.
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.