Natural England - Wetland Vision Grant Scheme 2009-11

Wetland Vision Grant Scheme 2009-11

The Wetland Vision sets out where new wetlands could be created and current wetlands restored over the next 50 years. By turning the Vision into reality we can make space for water in our countryside, help people and wildlife adapt to a changing climate, protect our heritage and reap the many benefits that wetlands can provide.

The Wetland Vision is a partnership between the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts, English Heritage, the Environment Agency and Natural England. (see www.wetlandvision.org.uk)

Natural England has allocated a further £4,000,000 to the Wetland Vision partnership between 2009 and 2011, (£2,000,000 in each year) in support of landscape-scale wetland projects and the delivery of the targets for priority wetland habitats, for which we are lead partner.

We now invite applications for funding

(a) to support specific projects within the four landscape scale initiatives already agreed by the wetland Biodiversity Integration Group and Wetland Vision steering groups(East Anglian Fens, Cumbria-Lancashire coastal arc, Midlands Meres and Mosses, and Humberhead levels) or

(b) to create or restore further large-scale wetland habitats elsewhere. We would particularly welcome applications from the SW, SE and NE Regions

The minimum threshold for project funding is £50,000 for project development work (including project officers, underpinning research and development of bids for funding from other sources), and £100,000 for habitat creation / restoration work, including land purchase. Natural England will fund up to a maximum of 50% of total project costs, and you must provide evidence of intended partner contributions for the remainder. You should set out a work programme covering the two financial years ending March 2011. Applicants should discuss their proposals with the relevant Regional BAP coordinator and ensure that there is support from Wetland Vision partners and from the Regional Biodiversity Forum. It would be helpful if Regional BAP coordinators could indicate the priority given by the Regional Biodiversity Forum to the proposals.

How to apply

The application pack consists of:

Please send your completed application to your Regional Biodiversity Coordinators by 31 May 2009. Applications will be assessed against the criteria agreed by Wetland Vision and Wetland Biodiversity Integration Group partners. You will be notified of the outcome of your application by 30 June 2009.

If you have any queries or would like further information, please contact:

Wetland Vision newsletter

This newsletter pdf document provides an update on progress under the joint Wetland Vision, a partnership project between Natural England, RSPB, English Heritage, Environment Agency and the Wildlife Trusts, which sets out our shared objectives for wetland restoration and creation over the next 50 years. For further information please contact Alastair Burn.

Select a region

Related articles