The Urgency and Opportunity: Funding Nature-Based Solutions This Summer
This summer presents a critical window for organisations seeking to implement nature-based solutions (NbS) and secure vital funding. NbS, which leverage natural ecosystems to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, are no longer niche concepts but a strategic priority across UK government departments. Initiatives are being coordinated by bodies like Defra, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and the Environment Agency, signalling a robust commitment to funding these vital efforts.
For founders, charities, and researchers, this translates into concrete opportunities. Several grant schemes are actively open for applications, offering crucial support for projects that work with nature. For example, the Green Community Grants programme, run by the Wildlife Trusts, provides flexible, one-year grants of up to £25,000. These grants are specifically designed to support community-led nature recovery and climate emergency responses, making them ideal for local initiatives. Applications for these grants are currently being accepted.
Additionally, for those with smaller, experimental ideas, Friends of the Earth’s Local Nature Innovation Fund offers micro-grants of up to £1,000. These are perfect for grassroots groups aiming to test novel, inclusive approaches, such as climate-adapted planting or establishing local seedbanks. This fund operates on a rolling application basis, meaning you can apply whenever you're ready. These examples highlight that funding is available across different scales, from community-led projects to those requiring more substantial investment. Exploring these avenues now can help you harness the power of nature to create impactful change this year.
What Are Nature-Based Solutions and Why Are They a UK Priority?
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are innovative approaches that harness the power of natural ecosystems to address societal challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and water management. Think of restoring wetlands for flood defence, creating urban green spaces to combat heat islands, or implementing regenerative agriculture to enhance soil carbon. These solutions not only tackle environmental issues but also deliver co-benefits for communities and economies.
In the UK, NbS have rapidly become a strategic priority. Coordinated funding and policy leadership now come from key departments such as Defra, DESNZ, the Environment Agency, and the Forestry Commission. This unified approach is exemplified by major programmes like the Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change at the Landscape Scale initiative, funded via the HM Treasury Shared Outcomes Fund. Such cross-departmental alignment, as highlighted by the House of Commons Library, aims to integrate biodiversity goals, carbon codes, and emerging ecosystem service markets, creating fertile ground for NbS projects and diverse applicants.
The practical application of NbS is broad. Projects funded by schemes like the Green Community Grants have established urban rewilding hubs, boosting community well-being and sequestering carbon. On a larger scale, initiatives are piloting farm-level NbS to mitigate flood risk for critical infrastructure, involving organisations like the Environment Agency and Network Rail. International efforts, supported by grants like the GCBC Research Grant Competition, focus on co-developing participatory river basin management tools with Indigenous communities or testing carbon credit viability for smallholder forest stewards. These real-world examples showcase NbS's versatility in building climate resilience and equitable livelihoods. Trends also indicate a growing emphasis on embedding equity and inclusion, and developing 'investment readiness' for NbS, signalling key criteria for future funding applications.
Discover Open Grants: Your Summer 2026 Funding Landscape
Summer 2026 presents a vibrant landscape of funding opportunities specifically for nature-based solutions (NbS) across the UK. Several active grant schemes are currently open for applications, offering crucial support for a range of projects, from community-led initiatives to innovative rewilding efforts.
For organisations focused on community engagement and local nature recovery, the Green Community Grants from the Wildlife Trusts are a key avenue. These flexible, one-year grants provide up to £25,000 and are still accepting applications in 2026. They explicitly target community-led responses to the climate emergency and nature crisis.
If your work involves pioneering rewilding projects, Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Innovation Fund re-opened in 2026. It offers grants of up to £15,000 for innovative, network-supported initiatives across Britain, welcoming new applicants who join their Rewilding Network during the application process.
For grassroots groups experimenting with novel, inclusive approaches to nature restoration, Friends of the Earth’s Local Nature Innovation Fund provides micro-grants of up to £1,000. These are ideal for testing ideas like climate-adapted planting or local seedbanks, with applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
It's also worth noting the GCBC Research Grant Competition 3 (RGC3). While its main application deadline was 16 March 2025, it remains active for reporting and impact follow-up activities in 2026, indicating ongoing engagement and scaling of its outcomes.
It's important to note that many funding calls require a co-contribution. For example, the Natural England and Environment Agency’s landscape-scale NbS programmes typically mandate a minimum of 15% match funding. Furthermore, developing strong partnerships-whether with academic institutions, NGOs, local communities, or the private sector-is often a critical component for successful grant applications, particularly for larger and more complex projects. These details are vital when preparing your proposals.
Key Requirements and Emerging Trends in NbS Funding
Securing funding for nature-based solutions (NbS) increasingly requires not just a strong project idea, but also an understanding of evolving funding requirements and strategic priorities. As you prepare your applications this summer, pay close attention to common prerequisites and emerging trends that funders are prioritising.
A significant requirement across many schemes is demonstrating commitment through match funding. For instance, the Natural England and Environment Agency's landscape-scale programme mandates a minimum of 15% match funding, signalling a shared investment in the project's success. Similarly, grants from bodies like GCBC and UKRI often seek strong partnership models. Funders are looking for collaborations that bring together academia, NGOs, local communities, and potentially the private sector, ensuring diverse expertise and broader impact. While profit-making entities can be involved, they typically cannot receive direct grant funds under programmes like GCBC.
Beyond these foundational needs, several key trends are shaping NbS funding:
Firstly, there's a pronounced shift towards blended finance and investment readiness. Initiatives like the Environment Agency’s Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) are actively supporting projects aiming to become 'bankable'. This indicates a growing appetite from private investors for well-structured NbS initiatives, suggesting that demonstrating a clear path to financial sustainability beyond the grant period is becoming crucial.
Secondly, funders are placing a higher premium on robust evidence and data. UKRI's significant investment in climate adaptation research highlights the demand for data proving NbS effectiveness, particularly for resilience against flood risk, urban heat, and water management challenges. Preparing to collect and present strong monitoring data will significantly strengthen your proposal.
Finally, equity and inclusion are now embedded criteria, not afterthoughts. Funders like the John Ellerman Foundation, GCBC, and Friends of the Earth explicitly require projects to promote equity and ensure meaningful participation from marginalised communities, Indigenous peoples, women, and youth. Demonstrating how your project benefits both people and the planet, with a focus on justice, will be vital.
Actionable Insight: To stand out, structure your application to clearly articulate not only your project's environmental benefits but also its collaborative nature, its potential for financial sustainability, its reliance on solid data, and its commitment to equitable outcomes for all involved.
Securing Your Grant: Application Tips and Resources
Translating Your Vision into a Winning Application
Securing funding for your nature-based solutions (NbS) project requires more than just a compelling idea; it demands a strategic approach to your application. As you prepare to apply this summer, focus on translating your understanding of the funding landscape into concrete steps that resonate with grantmakers.
Align Your Project with Funder Priorities
Review the latest trends identified in our research. Funders are increasingly prioritizing robust evidence of NbS effectiveness, particularly for climate resilience challenges like flood risk and urban heat. Furthermore, equity and inclusion are now embedded criteria, with a focus on how projects benefit marginalised communities and ensure fair participation. Clearly articulate how your initiative addresses these specific areas to capture funder attention.
Build Strong, Collaborative Partnerships
Many significant grants, such as those from GCBC and UKRI, emphasize the importance of strong collaborative models. Showcase how your project brings together a diverse range of partners - from academic institutions and NGOs to local communities and potentially private sector entities - to create a holistic and impactful approach.
Prepare for Match Funding Requirements
Be aware that match funding is a common prerequisite. As highlighted by the Natural England/Environment Agency landscape-scale programme, a minimum contribution is often expected. Proactively identify potential co-funding sources or in-kind contributions that can bolster your application and demonstrate commitment.
Gather and Present Compelling Data
With funders keen to invest in proven solutions, robust data on NbS effectiveness is crucial. Ensure your proposal includes clear metrics for success, baseline monitoring where applicable (consider small grants like those from the British Ecological Society for initial fieldwork), and a solid plan for evaluating and reporting on outcomes.
Leverage Key Application Resources
Utilize the verified resources outlined previously. The 'Find a Government Grant' portal, for instance, is an excellent tool for filtering opportunities by your specific NbS focus and discovering live deadlines. Directly visiting funder pages, such as those for the National Lottery Heritage Fund or GCBC, will provide the most up-to-date details on eligibility and application processes. GrantGunner helps you navigate these opportunities, making the application journey smoother.
