Rewilding Innovation Fund

Rewilding Innovation Fund is sponsored by Rewilding Britain. Offers grants to support innovative rewilding projects across Britain. The fund is available to projects that are part of Rewilding Britain's Rewilding Network (applicants can join at the time of application) and aim to apply rewilding principles to benefit nature, climate, and people.

Projects must cover at least 40 hectares; however, marine-based projects can be of any size.

Rewilding Innovation Fund | Rewilding Britain Unlock next-level rewilding The Rewilding Innovation Fund aims to remove barriers to rewilding across Britain. Whether your site or project is in the early planning stages or looking to try out a new approach, you can apply to this fund.

From business plans to feasibility studies, community engagement to trialling the latest technology, Rewilding Britain funds works that could potentially unlock further funding for you or move you up the rewilding scale. We choose the projects we consider will have the highest impact on people and nature, on land and sea, with opportunities for shared learning with the Rewilding Network .

Projects have two opportunities to apply for funding through the Rewilding Innovation Fund each year, in the new year and summer.

rewilding projects funded so far To apply for funding – of up £ 15 , 000 – projects must be: based in Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) cover at least 40 hectares of contiguous land or have a marine rewilding project of any size part of the Rewilding Network (you may join at the point of application) rewilding (or about to) at scale – potentially as a group of landowners or project partners – and to our rewilding principles Dig deeper into our application criteria below.

You may also be interested in applying for our annual Challenge Fund . “The Innovation fund support has allowed us to bring in a Community Engagement Officer, enabling us to extend our reach across the region beyond our usual contacts.

” Jeff Davitt, funding recipient Yorkshire Rewilding Network Explore Innovation Fund projects We’ve already given £ 970 k+ to 79 rewilding initiatives around Britain through the Rewilding Innovation Fund. From white-tailed eagle feasibility studies to coastal restoration, community engagement to drone surveying, uncover all the projects we’ve funded since 2021 .

The recipients showcase the diverse range of rewilding projects taking action across Britain. Our support will help boost their bold efforts to improve our climate, bring nature back and provide economic futures for communities. You are eligible to apply for the Rewilding Innovation Fund if you meet the following criteria: You're a member of the Rewilding Network .

This includes, but is not limited to, community, private and public landowners and managers of rewilding areas on the land and sea. If you aren’t a Rewilding Network member but would like to be considered, please join before applying. You're rewilding at scale* – that is more than 40 hectares of land or any size of marine project.

This can be an individual landholding/organisation or a cluster of landholdings/organisations. If you're rewilding at a smaller scale than this, we strongly encourage you to connect with others to form a local group, network or cluster to work up a project for application. In your application (just one between you) we'll need to see evidence of your shared vision and how you plan to work together.

Local groups and networks can also apply to the fund for any innovative projects that will help to upscale rewilding. You show an understanding of and commitment to working to our rewilding principles – whether you are at the beginning of your rewilding journey or have been carrying out this work for some time. You can demonstrate why you need funding/intervention now, and why you cannot access this funding from other sources.

You haven't previously been awarded money from the Rewilding Innovation Fund (previously known as the Incubator Fund) for the same piece of work. We are happy to accept funding applications from those who have applied before and been unsuccessful. Please ensure that you adapt and build on your application for our consideration this time around.

*This size has been set to tie in with the principle of rewilding being the restoration of ecosystems with enough space to allow nature to drive the changes and shape the living systems on which we all depend. By funding projects greater than 40 hectares we will provide nature with enough space to start to lead the way.

The fund aims to support works that could potentially unlock further funding or move your project up the rewilding scale, whether you are new to rewilding or have been going for some time. Examples of potential applications include: business plans and strategies, community engagement activities and co-design, feasibility studies, technology and innovation.

Funds can also be used to pay for direct interventions or expertise that your project requires. Funding cannot be provided for land purchase or capital costs such as fencing. Funding for up to £15,000* will be considered.

We expect the majority of grants to be less than £10,000. The Rewilding Innovation Fund steering group will use the following assessment criteria to award the money, including: funding: are there alternative options available?

; alignment with our rewilding principles ; degree of innovation and learning; financial strategy; consideration of the business concept and long-term viability and sustainability; understanding of monitoring and evidence-building. *The maximum level of funding has been set at £15,000 because the fund aims to support elements in a project that can remove barriers and unlock further funding.

If your project requires higher investment than this to get off the ground, consider whether there are smaller elements of your grand vision, such as business plans or feasibility studies, which you can use the Rewilding Innovation Fund for, so helping you at least get started. Could initial funding from us help leverage further funds elsewhere in the future?

Terms and conditions of the funding The funding must be spent within 15 months. Please detail in your application how you plan to work to this timescale. All supported projects must measure and report on their progress every quarter.

All successful applicants must agree to share stories and lessons learnt for the wider Rewilding Network and for the public. Ensure that you are a Rewilding Network member. If you aren't, please apply to become a Rewilding Network member before you make your funding application.

Complete the application form for the Rewilding Innovation Fund when the next round is open. Funding given to rewilding projects since 2021 “I have spent many years mapping this areas vegetation badly, using rain soaked paper and coloured pencils. These drone images are a game changer.

” Davy Galbraith, botanical surveyor Frequently asked questions Do you fund equipment purchase? Not typically – however, if equipment forms a key part of the project, then we'll consider this on a case-by-case basis. For example, we do not typically fund GPS collars for cattle, but if an application is looking to test technology for a new species then this would be considered.

Do you fund capital works? The Rewilding Innovation Fund does not cover capital works, including activities such as seeding seagrass, planting trees or creating ponds. Funding can cover staff costs and external contractor costs, as long as they directly contribute to your application’s proposed outcomes.

Can I access funding if I’m not part of the Rewilding Network? All projects funded by the Rewilding Innovation Fund must meet our rewilding principles and be associated with a Rewilding Network project. We welcome new applications to join the Network, and so you are able to apply to join the Network alongside your Rewilding Innovation Fund application.

Please note that if your Rewilding Network application is unsuccessful, then you will not be eligible for the Rewilding Innovation Fund. We also welcome partnership applications, but all projects must be associated with a Rewilding Network project. How do you make decisions about the Rewilding Innovation Fund?

We have a steering group to inform the shortlisting and final decisions for the Rewilding Innovation Fund. This group comprises members of the Rewilding Britain team and trustees. All applications are assessed and scored on the basis of our criteria.

How many rounds do you have per year? We currently have two rounds per year, typically one in the summer and one at new year. If you’ve got a question that we haven’t answered here, please contact the Rewilding Network team.

The Rewilding Innovation Fund has been made possible through funding from the Dormywood Trust, Hotelplan Ltd, Martin Charitable Trust, Orp Foundation, Reed Foundation, Turnstyle, Roger Raymond Charitable Trust, AG Communications and the many individuals who have given generous support to this project. Support the Innovation Fund With your help we can support more rewilding projects on the ground.

Funding the acceleration of rewilding By funding rewilding projects across Britain we’re playing a crucial role in scaling up nature’s recovery. Rewilding Innovation Fund projects Explore the diverse projects funded by Rewilding Britain’s Innovation Fund, awarded to initiatives that will break down barriers to rewilding.

Five rewilding projects restoring habitats at scale Discover five inspiring rewilding projects taking action to bring species back and restore habitats at a landscape-scale. Meet the rewilders: Sussex Kelp Recovery Project Campaigning by an eclectic group of individuals in Sussex has brought coastal kelp back from the brink — and inspired joined-up thinking on marine rewilding. Rewilding Innovation Fund