A £50,000 Nature Recovery Fund has been launched to help protect and restore local wildlife and habitats across Westmorland and Furness.
The cash is available from Westmorland and Furness Council for projects that aid in the recovery of one or more priority species or control/eradicate key invasive non-native species, or that support pollinators across the area.
Organisations and partnerships can apply for grants of between £5,000 and £20,000, which can be used to partially or fully support projects that make a measurable difference to nature recovery efforts within Westmorland and Furness.
The Nature Recovery Fund aims to support projects that:
- Restore, enhance, create, or connect habitats to support pollinators or one or more Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy priority species.
- Undertake bespoke actions to support Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy priority species.
- Support the removal of invasive non-native species as listed in the Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
- Conduct research to inform and support future species recovery.
Activities could include habit enhancement, restoration and/or creation work, buy and installation of infrastructure such as swift boxes, bat boxes and trail cameras, baseline surveys, purchase of equipment to directly support the removal of invasive non-native species such as that used for direct removal/eradication, reintroduction of pollinators or priority species to their former habitats, supporting existing populations, or helping species adapt to environmental changes and research and development.
The Cumbria Local Nature Recovery Strategy can be found here.
Applications are now open until Friday January 30 2026.
Eligible organisations and groups are encouraged to apply for funding via https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/your-environment/climate-change-and-natural-environment
Councillor Giles Archibald, Westmorland and Furness Council cabinet member for climate, biodiversity and environmental services, said: “This fund reflects the council’s commitment to being ‘ecologically aware’, one of our core values, and to leading the way towards becoming carbon net zero while protecting and enhancing our natural environment for future generations.
“Everyone has a role to play in nature recovery. Nature restoration will only be possible through a huge collective effort across our communities, involving the public and private sectors, landowners, voluntary organisations and local residents working together to create connected habitats and thriving ecosystems that benefit everyone.”
