Westmorland and Furness Council has launched a new £50,000 Nature Recovery Fund to support the protection and restoration of local wildlife and habitats across the region. The fund is intended for projects that aid the recovery of priority species, control or eradicate invasive non-native species, or support pollinators, as outlined in the recently published Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).
Grants ranging from £5,000 to £20,000 are available to organisations and partnerships, which can be used to partially or fully support initiatives that make a measurable impact on nature recovery. Eligible projects may include habitat restoration, creation, or enhancement, actions targeting LNRS priority species, removal of invasive species, research to inform future recovery efforts, and the installation of infrastructure such as bat or swift boxes. Activities may also involve reintroduction of pollinators or species to their former habitats, supporting existing populations, or helping species adapt to environmental changes.
Applications are open until Friday, 30 January 2026, and can be submitted online. Councillor Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, emphasized that the fund reflects the council’s commitment to ecological awareness, carbon net zero goals, and biodiversity enhancement. He highlighted that nature recovery requires a collective effort across communities, involving public and private sectors, landowners, voluntary organisations, and local residents to create connected habitats and resilient ecosystems.
The Nature Recovery Fund offers local organisations and partnerships an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to restoring the natural balance in Westmorland and Furness, supporting both species recovery and the wider environmental strategy of the region.
