Bmc Access & Conservation Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £176,808 (2024)
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £50,000
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland
• Application Method: Rolling basis via application form

Contact Details

Website: https://thebmc.co.uk/en/access-conservation-trust

Phone: 0161 445 6111

Email: cath@thebmc.co.uk (for grant applications)

Address: 177-179 Burton Road, Manchester, M20 2BB

Overview

The BMC Access & Conservation Trust (ACT) is a registered charity (no. 1089516) established to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment. As the charitable arm of the British Mountaineering Council, ACT supports access and conservation projects that protect cliff and mountain environments while promoting responsible use for walking, climbing, hill walking and mountaineering. Since 2016, the charity has raised over £1.4 million through its flagship Mend Our Mountains campaign and has expanded its work to include The Climate Project, focusing on nature-based solutions to address climate and biodiversity crises. In 2025, the Trust underwent significant transition, welcoming four new trustees to strengthen its strategic focus and governance.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Mend Our Mountains

• Flagship campaign focused on upland path repair and access improvements
• Grant range: £5,000 - £50,000
• Recent awards include:
• Fix the Fells ranger funding: £50,000 (Lake District National Trust ranger)
• Roseberry Topping pathway restoration: £50,000 (North York Moors)
• Cotswolds National Landscape Access Officer: £41,000 (one-year position)
• Chanctonbury Ring path improvements: £25,000 (South Downs)
• Cressbrook Mill footbridge replacement: £10,000 (Peak District)
• Get Stuck In volunteering opportunities: £5,000 (multiple locations)

The Climate Project

• Nature-based solutions for climate and biodiversity crisis
• Focus on sphagnum moss and seagrass planting projects
• Recent awards include:
• Seagrass Ocean Rescue: £15,000 (North Wales project officer extension)
• Eryri Apprentice Ranger: £30,000 (via Athletic Brewing Company partnership)

General Access and Conservation Grants

• Site-based conservation work (footpath construction, fencing, stiles, signs, ecological surveys)
• Campaigns and policy development
• Rural development initiatives
• Sustainable transport initiatives
• Information resources and publications
• Research on mountain recreation impacts
• Training for access volunteers

Priority Areas

• Footpath repair and maintenance in upland and mountain areas
• Moorland restoration and peat bog conservation
• Sphagnum moss planting and carbon sequestration projects
• Seagrass restoration in coastal areas
• Access improvements to climbing areas and crags
• Conservation of cliff and mountain environments
• Volunteer-led conservation projects
• Policy work related to access and conservation
• Education about conservation and ecological sensitivity
• Research into impacts of mountain recreation

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated in available documentation, the Trust's focus is clearly limited to:

• Projects within England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland only
• Work related to mountain, cliff, or upland environments
• Projects connected to climbing, hill walking, or mountaineering access

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chair: Chris Coleman (appointed June 2025)

Trustees:

• Mark Adrian Boucher (appointed June 2025)
• Julie Wilson (appointed June 2025)
• Stephen John Charles (appointed June 2025)
• Richard Andrew Hobbs Holland (appointed July 2019)
• Rosanna Catherine Moore (appointed March 2021) - expertise in fundraising
• Neal Hockley - BMC Board Representative, environmental economics lecturer at Bangor University
• British Mountaineering Council (corporate trustee)

Leadership Quotes

Chair Chris Coleman said: "2025 has been a year of transition as well as real momentum for the BMC Access & Conservation Trust - our new trustees are helping us sharpen our strategic focus while we continued to deliver meaningful impact on the ground across our two core umbrella initiatives, Mend Our Mountains and The Climate Project. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our donors, the passion of our volunteers, and the collaboration of our brilliant partner organisations."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

ACT welcomes applications from organisations and groups working on access and conservation projects:

1. Download the application form from the ACT website
2. Complete the form detailing your project proposal
3. Email the completed form to cath@thebmc.co.uk
4. Projects can be submitted on a rolling basis

The Trust states: “If you have an idea for a project in the UK or Ireland, let them know. From local footpath work to national consultations, ACT might be able to help.”

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified, but the Trust appears to operate on a rolling basis rather than fixed deadlines. Trustees, who are access and conservation experts, meet to review applications and decide which projects to support across England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to achieve maximum benefit from donations received.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. The Trust selects projects strategically to maximize impact, with a recent report noting six projects funded in 2024 through the Mend Our Mountains campaign alone. Given the Trust's total expenditure of £176,808 in 2024 and the range of projects funded (typically £5,000-£50,000), the Trust appears to fund approximately 6-10 major projects annually, plus smaller grants and volunteer initiatives.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is documented in available sources. Organizations are encouraged to contact the Trust directly to discuss project ideas.

Application Success Factors

Based on recently funded projects, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear connection to upland and mountain environments: Projects must relate to cliffs, mountains, or upland countryside used by climbers, hill walkers, and mountaineers.

1. Practical conservation impact: The Trust favors projects with tangible, measurable outcomes - path repairs, habitat restoration, volunteer engagement.

1. Strategic value: Trustees select projects that achieve “maximum benefit” from available funds across the four nations.

1. Collaborative approach: Many successful projects involve partnerships with National Parks, National Trust, and other conservation bodies.

1. Volunteer engagement potential: Projects that mobilize volunteers appear valued - the 2025 Impact Report highlighted 191 volunteers contributing 1,843 hours across projects.

1. Climate and biodiversity benefits: Recent strategic focus includes nature-based solutions like sphagnum planting (23,320 plugs planted) and seagrass restoration.

1. Long-term sustainability: Projects that fund positions or infrastructure rather than one-off interventions (e.g., ranger roles, access officer positions) receive substantial grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Apply on a rolling basis: No fixed deadlines - download the form and submit when ready
• Think strategically across the four nations: Trustees aim to distribute funding across England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland
• Focus on tangible outcomes: Quantify path repairs, volunteers engaged, habitat restored, carbon sequestered
• Consider partnership approaches: Many successful grants involve collaboration with National Parks, National Trust, or other established conservation bodies
• Align with campaign themes: Projects fitting Mend Our Mountains (path repair) or The Climate Project (nature-based solutions) may have clearer routes to funding
• Demonstrate volunteer engagement: The Trust values projects that mobilize community participation
• Contact early: Email cath@thebmc.co.uk to discuss project ideas before applying - the Trust welcomes exploratory conversations

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Alpkit Foundation
• Dartmoor Preservation Association
• The Cairngorms Trust
• Nature Networks Fund
• The Areti Charitable Trust
• CLA Charitable Trust
• Chapman Charitable Trust
• Peak District National Park Foundation
• UK National Parks Charity Foundation
• The Carman Family Foundation

References

• BMC Access & Conservation Trust official page: https://thebmc.co.uk/en/access-conservation-trust
• BMC Access & Conservation Trust Impact Report 2025: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/access-and-conservation-trust-impact-report-2025
• Mend Our Mountains 2024 projects: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/mend-our-mountains-2024
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3986731
• Companies House filing: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04311391
• BMC Access & Conservation Trust trustees: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3986731/trustees