£809,000 invested to scale up nature recovery across southern England
The Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund has expanded, with the support of the Protected Landscapes Partnership and Defra, to support 23 ambitious projects across southern England, with a total of £809,000 invested in restoring and reconnecting the UK’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes.
Building on the initial funding announcement in January, this increased investment is accelerating action on the ground—supporting projects that restore habitats, reconnect fragmented landscapes, and help wildlife adapt to a changing climate.
Spanning chalk streams, wildflower-rich grasslands, woodland rides, and wildlife-friendly farmland, the projects are delivering coordinated, practical interventions that will create bigger, better, and more connected spaces for nature.
Scaling up impact across landscapes
Together, the 23 projects will:
- Restore and enhance hundreds of hectares of priority habitat
- Strengthen ecological connectivity across fragmented landscapes
- Expand species-rich grasslands and pollinator networks
- Restore rare and fragile chalk streams
- Support sustainable land management and conservation grazing
- Engage communities and volunteers in hands-on nature recovery
This growing portfolio reflects Big Chalk’s focus on strategically targeted, evidence-led action—investing in the right places to deliver the greatest gains for nature at a landscape scale.
New projects strengthening the network
Additional funding is now supporting three further projects that build on existing work and extend impact across key landscapes:
- Chalk stream restoration in Cambridgeshire will be extended with an additional £20,000 investment, enabling a further 200 metres of in-channel restoration and supporting volunteer-led delivery on the ground.
- Butterfly habitat connectivity in the Chilterns will be strengthened through £14,860 of funding for ranger-led volunteer sessions across eight sites, delivering scrub management, hedgerow creation, and wildflower planting to support species including the Duke of Burgundy, Grizzled Skipper, and Brown Hairstreak.
- Grassland restoration at Elm Farm in Surrey will be supported through a £25,000 investment in specialist haymaking equipment, enhancing 78 hectares of grassland, including species-rich chalk grassland, and strengthening long-term conservation grazing operations.
Each project contributes to a wider, joined-up approach—linking habitats, supporting species recovery, and building resilient ecological networks across southern England.
Partnership powering progress
This growing portfolio reflects the power of targeted investment, strong partnerships, and practical action—with Big Chalk partners working together to restore landscapes at scale and build a more resilient future for nature.
We’ve got more exciting news about the Big Chalk Nature Recovery Fund coming soon—watch this space.
In the meantime, follow Big Chalk on social media and explore our website for the latest updates and stories from our partners
Join us on our journey to create nature-rich chalk and limestone landscapes that benefit all of us.
The Big Chalk programme and Nature Recovery Fund is funded through the Protected Landscapes Partnership, supported by Defra.
Data Loggers at Cherry Hinton Brook
Duke of Burgundy butterfly
Do you have a project that could strengthen the future of southern England’s iconic chalk and limestone landscapes?
The Big Chalk programme brings together a dynamic suite of partner-led projects, each unique in its focus, area, and partnerships but sharing a commitment to our collective vision.
If your project contributes to the Big Chalk mission, we invite you to register it as a Big Chalk Project. Registered projects gain access to networking, shared learning, and best practice—alongside the Big Chalk brand, boosting your profile and connecting you to a powerful, growing network of partners.
Together, these projects form a united effort to secure the future of southern England’s chalk and limestone landscapes, making a lasting impact for nature and communities.