Nature Networks Fund

Quick Stats

• Total Programme Budget: ??45 million (over three years)
• Annual Funding Rounds: Varies (??3.78m - ??10m per round)
• Decision Time: 3-5 months from application deadline
• Grant Range: ??50,000 - ??1,000,000
• Geographic Focus: Wales only
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed

Contact Details

Website: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/nature-networks-fund-round-five

Email: natur@heritagefund.org.uk

Welsh Language Support: cymorthcymraeg@heritagefund.org.uk

Phone: 020 7591 6044 (Heritage Fund Customer Services)

Pre-Application Support: Webinars offered before each funding round; applicants encouraged to discuss projects with Heritage Fund advisors

Overview

The Nature Networks Fund is a Welsh Government programme launched in 2021 as part of a three-year Nature Networks Programme (2022-2025) with a total budget of approximately ??45 million. The fund is administered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural Resources Wales. It aims to strengthen the resilience of Wales' network of protected land and marine sites, build organizational capacity to accelerate nature's recovery, and engage communities in biodiversity conservation. The fund supports the Welsh Government's commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework “30 by 30” goal, which aims to protect 30% of the planet's land, freshwater and seas by 2030. To date, the fund has delivered multiple rounds of funding, awarding grants to over 70 projects ranging from bat conservation and marine habitat restoration to community engagement and apprenticeship programmes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants (??50,000 - ??250,000)

• Two-stage application: Project Enquiry followed by full application (if invited)
• Primarily capital grants with some revenue support
• Decision timeline: Approximately 5 months from enquiry deadline

Large Grants (??250,000 - ??1,000,000)

• Two-stage application: Expression of Interest followed by full application (if invited)
• Response to Expression of Interest within 20 working days
• Primarily capital grants with some revenue support
• Decision timeline: Approximately 6 months from Expression of Interest deadline

Application Method: Fixed deadlines for each funding round (not rolling basis)

Maximum Applications: Organizations can submit up to two applications per round - one in each grant tier

Priority Areas

Protected Sites Network

• Habitat restoration and management on or adjacent to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), and marine protected areas
• Improving condition and connectivity of protected sites
• Actions aligned with site management objectives or conservation objectives
• Projects that enhance ecological networks supporting protected sites

Eligible Activities

• Capital works: machinery, fencing, interpretation panels, infrastructure
• Feasibility studies, ecological surveying, and scheme design
• Partnership development and community consultation
• Skills development, training, and apprenticeships (minimum Living Wage)
• Staff costs for project delivery
• Project evaluation and monitoring
• Bilingual (Welsh/English) communications and materials

Community Engagement

• Inclusive community access to nature
• Local communities as active participants and beneficiaries
• Volunteer involvement and community stewardship
• Job creation and apprenticeship opportunities

Organizational Capacity Building

• Building long-term sustainability of conservation organizations
• Partnership working and collaboration
• Knowledge sharing and best practice development

What They Don't Fund

Explicitly Excluded

• Land acquisition
• Ongoing maintenance beyond project duration
• Recoverable VAT
• Pre-award activities (costs incurred before grant decision)
• Projects that have already started before decision
• Projects with private gain that outweighs public benefit

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Governance and Leadership

Partners

• Welsh Government: Funding provider and strategic lead
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund: Programme administrator
• Natural Resources Wales: Delivery partner and technical advisor

Key Personnel Quotes

Andrew White, Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales: "Funding natural heritage projects which help tackle the effects of climate change and support nature's recovery is a key priority for The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales."

Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies: "This significant investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to protecting Wales's natural heritage. By supporting these 13 diverse projects across our nation, we're not only preserving precious ecosystems but also empowering communities to become stewards of their local environments."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For ??50,000 - ??250,000 Grants:

1. Submit Project Enquiry by published deadline
2. If invited, submit full application via online portal
3. Include required documentation: governing documents, audited accounts, project plans, cost templates, land ownership/lease documentation, site location maps

For ??250,000 - ??1,000,000 Grants:

1. Submit Expression of Interest by published deadline
2. Receive response within 20 working days
3. If invited, submit full application via online portal
4. Include additional requirements: project management structure, detailed partnership agreements

Required Documentation for All Applications:

• Governing documents and audited accounts
• Detailed cost templates (provided by Heritage Fund)
• Land ownership or lease documentation (minimum 10-year lease for capital projects)
• Site location maps and geographic data files (.shp or .kml format)
• Partnership agreements (where applicable)
• Evidence of consultation with Natural Resources Wales and other relevant bodies
• Welsh language implementation plan and budget

Decision Timeline

Typical Timelines from Recent Rounds:

• Small grants (??50k-??250k): 5 months from enquiry deadline to decision
• Large grants (??250k-??1m): 6 months from Expression of Interest deadline to decision

Project Completion Deadlines:

• Projects must complete by specified date (typically 3-4 years from award)
• All financial reporting and evaluation must be submitted by completion date

Notification Methods:

• Email notification of decisions
• Webinars may be held to announce successful projects

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, competitive nature of the fund can be inferred from recent rounds:

• Round with ??3.78 million awarded to 17 projects (??87,600 - ??249,999 range)
• Round with ??10 million awarded to 13 projects (??643,000 - ??995,542 range)
• Round with ??7.2 million awarded to 29 projects (??53,000 - ??500,000 range)

Reapplication Policy

No Right to Appeal or Reapply: There is no formal appeal process or right to reapply after rejection.

Complaint Process: The Heritage Fund will only review a decision if you can make a formal complaint demonstrating they:

• Did not follow published assessment procedures, or
• Misunderstood a significant part of your application

Two-Stage Complaint Process: Must be submitted within 10 working days of receiving decision

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

Evidence-Based Applications

• “Include evidence to support your plans” - applications must be grounded in ecological data and surveys
• Tell them about any specialist advice received from ecologists, Natural Resources Wales, or other experts
• Demonstrate awareness of and progress toward obtaining necessary permissions and licenses

Evaluation Planning

• “Build in evaluation from the beginning of your project, as the more carefully projects budget for their evaluation, the higher the quality of the final report”
• Budget adequately for monitoring and evaluation
• Plan for data sharing with local environmental records centres under CC-BY 4.0 open license

Consultation with Advisors

• “If you have spoken to anyone from The National Lottery Heritage Fund about your project, tell them about the advice you received and how you have used that advice to develop your project”
• Pre-application engagement is valued and should be documented

Value for Money

• While no match funding required, “any contributions you provide can add to the impact and value for money of your project, which will be considered in assessment”
• Cash contributions, volunteer time, and in-kind support strengthen applications

Welsh Language Requirement

• “You must include the Welsh language in all aspects of your work and make sure that this information is included in your project budget and plan”
• Budget for translation services under “Other” costs category
• All materials, signage, and communications must be bilingual

Assessment Considerations

Primary Criteria:

• Contribution to protected sites network condition and connectivity
• Alignment with conservation objectives for specific protected sites
• Plans for inclusive community access and engagement
• Organizational capacity development and long-term sustainability
• Job creation and apprenticeship opportunities
• Durability of project impact beyond funding period

Balancing Priorities:

• Geographic spread across Wales
• Alignment with Nature Networks Maps connectivity priorities
• Portfolio balance between capital and revenue projects
• Diversity of lead organizations

Recently Funded Project Examples

Capital-Intensive Habitat Restoration:

• National Trust Cymru received ??971,888 to transform Bannau Brycheiniog National Park into wildlife-rich landscape
• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority received ??995,542 to restore grassland, heathland, bog, woodland and coastal habitats

Species-Specific Conservation:

• Vincent Wildlife Trust received ??987,929 to secure the future of the lesser horseshoe bat by building 20 new bat towers with young people
• Bat Conservation Trust received multiple grants for temperate rainforest bat habitat assessments

Marine Conservation:

• Zoological Society of London received ??249,919 for 'Restoring Wild Oysters to Conwy Bay'
• Project SIARC received ??390,000 for conservation research on sharks, skates and rays

Community Engagement and Education:

• Dr Beynon's Bug Farm received ??643,000 to enhance North West Pembrokeshire Commons and develop a 100-seater Nature Recovery Teaching Centre

River and Freshwater Restoration:

• Swansea University received ??497,457 to help reconnect five iconic Atlantic salmon rivers in Wales

Language and Terminology Used

• "Nature's recovery“ and ”accelerating nature's recovery"
• “Resilience” and “connectivity” of ecological networks
• “Protected sites network”
• “Public benefit outweighs private gain”
• “Organizational capacity building”
• “Inclusive community access”
• “Equitable participation”

Tips for Standing Out

1. Demonstrate Strong Partnerships: Multi-organization partnerships that bring together conservation expertise, land management, and community engagement
2. Show Long-Term Impact: Clear plans for project sustainability beyond the funding period
3. Integrate Community Benefit: Meaningful community involvement, not just consultation - show how communities will be active stewards
4. Include Skills Development: Apprenticeships, training, and capacity building strengthen applications
5. Align with Nature Networks Maps: Reference specific connectivity priorities from official Nature Networks mapping
6. Provide Robust Evidence: Strong ecological baseline data and clear conservation targets
7. Budget Realistically for Evaluation: Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plans with adequate funding

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Welsh-Specific Focus: This fund is exclusively for projects in Wales working on or adjacent to protected sites - ensure your project has clear links to SSSIs, SACs, SPAs, or marine protected areas
• Capital Focus with Community Benefits: Primarily a capital grant scheme, but successful projects integrate community engagement, skills development, and long-term stewardship
• No Match Funding Required But Helpful: While not mandatory, demonstrating financial contributions, volunteer time, or in-kind support strengthens applications by showing value for money
• Welsh Language is Mandatory: Budget for bilingual materials and translation from the outset - this is not optional and must be costed in your budget
• Two-Stage Process Requires Strong Initial Case: Only invited applicants proceed to full application, so Project Enquiries and Expressions of Interest must be compelling and well-evidenced
• No Reapplication Rights: There is no appeal process and no right to reapply if rejected, making thorough preparation and consultation with Heritage Fund advisors before submission critical
• Long Decision Timelines: Allow 5-6 months from initial submission to decision, plus time for project setup - plan project timelines accordingly and do not start work before receiving formal approval

References

1. The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Nature Networks Fund (Round Five).. https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/nature-networks-fund-round-five

1. Welsh Government - ??10m boost for Welsh nature projects. Published 2024.. https://www.gov.wales/10m-boost-welsh-nature-projects

1. Natural Resources Wales - ??3.78 million Nature Networks Fund boost for protected species and nature sites across Wales.. https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/news-and-blogs/news/378-million-nature-networks-fund-boost-for-protected-species-and-nature-sites-across-wales/

1. The National Lottery Heritage Fund - ??10million awarded to boost Wales' protected natural landscapes.. https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/news/ps10million-awarded-boost-wales-protected-natural-landscapes

1. The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Nature Networks Fund: ??7.2million to protect Wales' threatened species and habitats.. https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/news/nature-networks-fund-ps72million-protect-wales-threatened-species-and-habitats

1. Welsh Government - ??9.8 million boost for Wales' biodiversity.. https://www.gov.wales/ps98-million-boost-wales-biodiversity

1. Natural Resources Wales - Nature Networks - information on nature projects.. https://naturalresources.wales/about-us/what-we-do/our-projects/our-nature-projects/nature-networks-information-on-nature-projects/

1. The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Application Help Notes: Nature Networks Fund.. Multiple rounds documentation.