Organisations working to restore nature in southern England can now apply for grants of up to £75,000 through the Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund — a new capital funding programme designed to help restore and reconnect the region’s chalk and limestone landscapes.
The fund supports nature recovery projects across southern England — from Dorset to Norfolk — including chalk and limestone grasslands, ancient woodland, and chalk streams. These are some of the UK’s most biodiverse habitats, but many are under threat from climate change, habitat loss, and fragmentation.
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.
“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 2020. It's a win for nature and for future generations.”
— Minister Mary Creagh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Who can apply for Big Chalk’s Nature Recovery Fund?
We welcome applications from farmers, landowners, conservation groups, communities, and organisations working within or between chalk and limestone landscapes. Projects must focus on capital investment — things like habitat creation, equipment, and infrastructure — that will deliver long-term benefits for nature.
Funding tiers include:
- Up to £10,000 - Fast-track approval
- £10,000–£75,000 - Expert panel review
- More than £75,000 - Special consideration for transformational projects
The fund can fully fund projects, offer match funding, or provide top-up grants to help scale up existing ideas.
Nature recovery at scale
The Big Chalk partnership's mission is to collectively secure the future of nature in southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes, by:
- championing the global importance of their unique nature,
- uniting nature recovery expertise to restore habitats and species, and
- working with speed, scale and focus.
This fund is a major step forward in supporting the UK’s target to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030 (30x30), and contributes directly to national strategies like the Environmental Improvement Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
“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.”
— Sir John Lawton, Chair of Making Space for Nature
Get funding for your nature recovery project
- Capital grants from £1,000–£75,000
- Flexible support for projects large and small
- Rolling application process
All funding must be spent by March 2026
This is a significant opportunity to fund nature recovery work in chalk and limestone landscapes across southern England — including areas between National Landscapes and beyond traditional protected sites.
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:
- Read the Applicant Guidance in full — it’s your go-to for eligibility, priorities, and what we’re looking for.
- Download and review the Word version of the application form — use it to prepare your answers offline.
- When you’re fully ready — with all your responses polished and documents in hand — open the live application form and submit.
- 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.