Our ReNature fund seeks to support community projects focused on changes in land management that will lead to increasing space for nature.
Help nature thrive across the South Downs.
The South Downs National Park Authority is working with partners to increase the amount of land managed for nature from 25% to 33% by 2030. This fund helps turn that ambition into action by backing practical, place-based projects that show what nature recovery can look like in local communities.
Grants of £2,000 to £25,000 are available from the South Downs National Park Trust towards capital costs. We are looking for projects that will make a real difference for wildlife, support long-term management for nature and bring benefits for local people.
Read this funding guide for further details.
Applying for a ReNature Grant
Deadlines: 1st April and 1st October, annually.
Please read the funding guide above and complete an enquiry form in the first instance. This can be sent to the Grants Officer. South Downs National Park staff will review your proposal and it’s suitability, before advising whether to proceed with a full application.
Image shows Lewes Golf Course – where for the last 2 years they have been using a cut and collect management system for their rough grassland. This has promoted the growth of wildflowers for pollinators and wildlife as well as giving substantial savings in time and cutting costs.
Credit – Tim Brewster
Need Inspiration?
This inspiring film shows how a single large donation can have a huge impact when teamed with a willing landowner and advice from the National Park.
Pen Hill near Harting Down is a 15Ha former chalk grassland site which has been farmed as arable for generations. The landowner wanted to restore it back to downland, and after careful planning and advice gained from National Park rangers and officers the transformation is starting to take place. Funding came via the South Downs Trust, including a large individual donation.
ReNature Green Finance Fund
We are also providing seed funding to a selection of projects which are taking a whole farm approach to Nature Recovery.
Our seed funding is supporting landowners to explore options of ReNaturing their land through the sale of Ecosystems services.
Our first two pilots resulted in 97.5 ha recovered for nature and we are now working with Hinton Ampner, West Dean and the Ouse Valley Nature Reserve, to see if we can replicate this work.
Other sources
Green Finance Institute – Investment Readiness Toolkit. The Investment Readiness Toolkit is an online and interactive framework that takes nature-based project developers and enterprises along the eight milestones of a path to ‘Investment Readiness’, providing key considerations and case studies.
Credit Nature – Nature Impact Token. A Nature Impact Token is a digital asset that represents a certified fractional stake in a nature recovery project. Nature Impact Tokens connect investors with like-minded landowners to deliver investable nature recovery project for the benefits of nature, people and business.
