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Peter Eeles

Nature Recovery

Nature Recovery

This theme supports projects that help to protect and restore nature.

This can include work to improve habitats, support plantlife and animals, and help the natural environment respond to challenges such as climate change.

Who can apply

Your organisation must be fully constituted, charitable or not-for-profit, and have no share capital.

We cannot accept applications from local authorities, councils, nurseries, food banks, hospices, hospitals, day-care centres, rehabilitation units, residential care facilities, allotments, schools or colleges. We are also unable to fund projects within these grounds.

What we can fund

Examples include:

  • Habitat improvement work
  • Wetland creation
  • Restoration of peatland
  • Plants, trees, hedgerows and seeds
  • Sustainable woodland improvements to include tree surgery and scrub removal
  • Installation of fire breaks and access for services to tackle wildfires
  • Creation of dams or re-meandering rivers and streams to manage water flow
  • Staff day rate equivalent costs to undertake directly delivery work or supervising volunteers, if this demonstrates better value than using external contractors to deliver the same work

Although not exhaustive, we are unable to fund:

  • Research projects
  • Baseline surveys
  • Habitat improvement work on land where the applicant plans to sell biodiversity units

Check if your project is eligible

Your project must meet all of the criteria below:

  • You are applying for between £10,000 and £75,000
  • Your total project cost is no more than £200,000 including VAT (standalone elements costing less than £200,000 are excluded)
  • Your project site is close enough to an eligible Biffa landfill site or operation (15 miles)
  • Your project site is ALSO within 10 miles of a licensed landfill site  (click here to check additional landfill eligibility with the scheme regulator)
  • You have a Third Party Contributor who can provide 10% of the amount you are applying for
  • Your project fits under one funding theme only
  • You have secured at least 75% of any shortfall funding, if Biffa Award is not fully funding the project
  • Your project will directly restore, reintroduce or improve a habitat or species and be working to meet commitments within your country’s Environmental Improvement Plan, legally-binding targets from the Environment Act 2021, or priorities identified within Local Nature Recovery Strategies
  • You have support from key agencies and experienced partners
  • Your project includes a strong element of public access or community involvement, such as volunteering
  • You have a comprehensive biodiversity management plan for the site
  • The work has not already started or been completed

If your organisation does not own the site, you must have either:

  • A fully signed lease with at least 10 years remaining, or
  • A fully signed landowner agreement with at least 10 years remaining

If you need planning permission or other licences to carry out work on site, these must be approved before you submit an Expression of Interest.

Previous grants

You cannot apply for another grant at the same site within one year of receiving your final payment from a previous Biffa Award grant.

We can accept up to two Full Applications per organisation each financial year. Only one application from an organisation will be considered at each Board meeting.

Use the Eligibility Checker

Enter your project site postcode into the Eligibility Checker below and select Search. The first results box will show whether your site is Eligible or Not eligible for funding.

If your site is eligible, make a note of the Biffa landfill site or operation details shown in the results. You will need these when completing your Expression of Interest.

Before applying, please download and read the detailed Guidance Notes, as they may have changed since you last applied, and there are some elements we are unable to fund. 

Submit an Expression of Interest

If your site is eligible and you have read the Guidance Notes, please Register to submit an Expression of Interest through the online grants portal. 

Once registered, you can access your application through the ‘Live Projects’ tab shown at the top of this page.

We no longer accept grant applications from Scotland and Wales as devolved nations.