Nature Recovery Fund

Scenic landscape featuring rolling hills covered in green grass and scattered trees and shrubs. Fields are visible in the foreground under an overcast sky, creating a calm and serene atmosphere.

Nature Recovery Fund

Nature needs urgent, united action — and we’re stepping up

The chalk and limestone landscapes of southern England are among our most precious places for wildlife.

From species-rich grasslands and ancient woodlands to chalk streams and open farmland — the Big Chalk area alone spans around 20% of England and are home to some of our most iconic and endangered species.

But they’re under growing pressure. Climate change, habitat fragmentation, and pollution threaten the delicate balance of these landscapes.

Before you dive in, take a moment to explore the full guidance — it’s got all the key details, FAQs, and the example application form to help you shape your strongest bid before you hit submit or get in touch.

Introducing the Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund

That’s why we’ve created the Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund — a capital grants programme supporting bold, practical projects that restore and reconnect southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes.

The Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund is funded through the Protected Landscapes Partnership, supported by Defra and brings landowners, communities, and conservationists together to deliver nature recovery at scale.

This is about putting resources where they matter most — on the ground.

If you’ve got a vision for restoring habitats, connecting landscapes, or creating new space for wildlife — we want to hear from you.

Whether you’re planting a hedgerow, building a pond, or delivering landscape-scale restoration, this fund is for you.

The pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) is an early spring bloom with large, silky, bell-shaped flowers in violet, pink, or white. It has feathery leaves and produces fluffy seed heads after flowering. It commonly grows in open grasslands and rocky areas.

“Through the Protected Landscape Partnership, we are investing in Big Chalk – a visionary collaboration across a fifth of England. The new Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund will drive real change on the ground, helping accelerate progress towards our pledge to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.

It’s a win for nature and for future generations.” 

— Minister Mary Creagh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 

80% of chalk grasslands lost
Once widespread, this globally rare habitat now survives in fragmented, vulnerable patches needing urgent action.
Big Chalk Partnership spans 20% of England
From Dorset to Norfolk, this continuous arc of calcareous habitat holds huge potential to reconnect fragmented ecosystems at scale.
1 in 6 UK species at risk of extinction
Nature is in serious decline — and restoring large, connected landscapes like Big Chalk is essential to reversing this trend.

Source: Plantlife / Natural England, Big Chalk analysis / National Landscapes data and State of Nature Report 2023

“The most exciting thing about Big Chalk is the sheer scale of the ambition. If we want to bring nature back into our landscapes in a meaningful and lasting way, we have to think big — and we have to work together. That was at the heart of the Making Space for Nature review: more, bigger, better and joined.

The Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund is an opportunity to connect the dots — to support the spaces in between, to work across boundaries, and to bring in the landowners, farmers, community groups and conservationists who all have a role to play. It enables us to work at a scale that truly matters, and to build the partnerships that will help nature recover and thrive.”  

— Sir John Lawton, Chair of Making Space for Nature Review 

What does the fund support?

We’re looking for high-impact, collaborative projects that deliver nature recovery. These could include:

  • Chalk grassland restoration
  • Chalk stream and river improvement
  • Habitat corridors and species reintroductions
  • Landscape-scale delivery and partnership working


We prioritise impact — especially where projects:

  • Restore species-rich grasslands, chalk streams and ancient woodland
  • Strengthen wildlife corridors
  • Create more and better-connected habitat
  • Support climate resilience
  • Strengthen local capacity to deliver long-term nature recovery

For more detail on eligibility, priorities and scoring, refer to our full guidance document, and explore an example application form.

Read full guidance

How does the Big Chalk Nature Recovery funding work?

We support capital projects of all sizes — from £1,000 to £75,000, with the potential for larger grants in exceptional, transformational cases.

Capital means investing in something new and lasting for nature — or making significant, permanent improvements to what’s already there:

  • Creating new habitats
  • Restoring or enhancing existing habitats
  • Built or installed features that directly support habitat creation, restoration, or management
  • Equipment and materials

We don’t support ongoing running costs or revenue — but we will fund salaries when they directly drive the creation of lasting, positive change for nature.


Three tiers of funding

To keep things proportionate, we’ve designed a simple, three-tier structure:

  1. Up to £10,000 → Fast-track approval
  2. £10,000 to £75,000 → Assessed by expert review panel
  3. Over £75,000 → Requires strong justification and must deliver transformational outcomes

Regardless of the size, every project must deliver real, lasting benefits for nature.


Flexible support

We know every project is different. That’s why we offer:

  • Full funding if your project is ready to go
  • Match funding to complement other sources
  • Top-up funding to help stretch a good idea into something great

More detail is available in our full guidance document, including examples and eligible costs.

Read full guidance

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from organisations and partnerships working within or across chalk landscapes. You might be:

  • A conservation or community group
  • A National Landscape or local authority
  • A farmer or land manager


Your project should:

  • Clearly benefit biodiversity, habitat connectivity, or long-term habitat improvement
  • Align with Big Chalk’s landscape-scale goals
  • Demonstrate local consultation and partnership working
  • Show how the work will be maintained after the grant
  • Be capital-focused — creating lasting change (not running costs, and only funding salaries that directly deliver it).

There are no fixed deadlines — apply when you’re ready. But all projects must be completed by 31 March 2026.

Refer to our full guidance and example form before starting your application.

Read full guidance

What is the application and evaluation criteria?

What we’re looking for

To be considered for funding, your project should:

  • Deliver clear nature recovery outcomes
  • Align with Big Chalk’s broader ecological aims
  • Be developed in partnership with local stakeholders
  • Demonstrate long-term sustainability
  • Focus on capital delivery


How we assess applications

We use a points-based system to evaluate:

  • Environmental impact
  • Applicant track record and capacity
  • Project sustainability and potential to scale
  • Alignment with ecological priorities (e.g. chalk streams, ancient woodland, species-rich grasslands)


Our commitment to 30x30

We’re supporting the UK’s target to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030. We’ll ask applicants to reflect on how their project contributes — your answers won’t affect the funding decision but will help inform national strategy.

Sample prompts:

  • How does your project support in-situ conservation?
  • How will outcomes be secured and monitored?


Monitoring and evaluation

We’ll support grantees to:

  • Carry out baseline assessments
  • Monitor key habitats and species
  • Trial new evaluation tools

Together, we’ll build evidence and share learning to inform future recovery efforts.

Read full guidance

How do I apply?

To give your project the best chance of success — and to keep the process smooth for everyone — please follow these steps in order:

  1. Read the Applicant Guidance in full — it’s your go-to for eligibility, priorities, and what we’re looking for.
  2. Download and review the Word version of the application form — use it to prepare your answers offline.
  3. When you’re fully ready — with all your responses polished and documents in hand — open the live application form and submit.
  4. Need clarification? Only after reviewing all materials, get in touch and we’ll help you.

This way, we can focus our time on helping you create the strongest application possible — and get funding moving to where it’s needed most.

Apply now!

Get in touch!

Want to talk through your idea?

Reach out to our Fund Manager, Naami Padi — or download the guidance and get started today.

📄 Read the guidance

📝 Start your application


The Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund is funded through the Protected Landscapes Partnership, supported by Defra.

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