Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fund for Nature – Guidance for Applicants
What is the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fund for Nature?
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fund for Nature is a revolving fund to deliver enhancements in nature in line with the ambition to double the quality and quantity of rich wildlife habitats and natural green space, and improve access to them in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The Fund was established through a grant from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and is managed by Natural Cambridgeshire, the Local Nature Partnership for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
What the Fund supports
The Fund will support large projects that attract external investment, that can create a stream of revenue and ideally be financially self-sustaining, with an ability to return and revolve the capital back into the Fund and thereby enable it to fund further projects. There will also be a focus on financial innovation, increasing the benefits that projects deliver, such as climate-change mitigation and adaptation, health and wellbeing, prosperity, flood prevention, and/or water quality and retention, and learning how to put a value on these benefits. Interest free loans of up to 7 years, with interest from 7 to 10 years are available in this round.
Why it matters
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are home to some of the UK’s most treasured natural environments but face significant challenges such as habitat loss and reduced biodiversity. The Fund provides a vital opportunity to support landscape projects that create lasting benefits for nature and communities alike.
Who can apply?
Expressions of Interest are welcome from:
- Landowners and farmers integrating productive land use with biodiversity goals.
- Local authorities and public bodies enhancing community green spaces.
- Conservation organisations planning large-scale habitat restoration projects.
Larger projects will be prioritised, with repayable funding of up to £300,000 available. Projects must match funding from other sources and demonstrate potential to leverage further investment or generate revenue.
How to apply
Expressions of interest to be received on the attached form by email not later than midnight on Monday 24th March 2025.
Expression of Interest Form can be downloaded here.
The Guidance for Applicants can be downloaded here.
Full applications from those chosen will be invited in April 2025, to be received by 18 June 2024. Funding agreements will be issued to those selected by 30 September 2025. Projects to begin work no later than January 2026. This process will be repeated every six months until the Fund is exhausted.
For further information, please email fund@naturalcambridgeshire.org.uk.