Nature Recovery Award

The Nature Recovery Award is a fund available to support practical schemes that improve and connect habitats for wildlife in the Horsham District. Landowners and community groups can apply for funding for projects of any size up to a maximum of £5000. We also offer site visits to help support and develop your project ideas.

The Nature Recovery Award is currently OPEN.

— Application deadline: Sunday 30 August 2026

All applications will be considered against:

  • Contribution to the creation and improvement of habitats
  • Contribution to improving habitat connectivity
  • Value for money (for example match-funding)
  • Informed design and management of the works

Only projects that improve habitats for Wildlife are eligible for this award. Amenities for people, education projects or survey work, for example, fall outside its remit.


Need some inspiration?
See our End of Year reports and project blogs where you can read about some of the projects we have funded, including:

Tawny owl looking out

A Tawny Owl captured moving into an owl nest box at Raylands Country Park, just one of a few wildlife-friendly initiatives funded at the site by the Nature Recovery Award.


How to Apply

1. Check whether the fund is currently open for applications. There are four funding windows per year. To help you plan your submission, here are the upcoming dates:

Round 24: Wednesday 1 July 2026 - Sunday 30 August 2026

Round 25: Tuesday 1 October 2026 - Sunday 29 November 2026

2. We strongly encourage you make contact with the project team before making an application. We can help you to develop or refine your project ideas, ensuring that they incorporate maximum benefit for wildlife and habitats, and creating a stronger application that will be more likely to be granted funding. Contact us at [email protected] to arrange a site visit and/or phone call.

3. Use the Guidance Notes below to complete an application form and email it to [email protected]. If you require a physical copy of the application form, please contact us. Following submission, we will email confirming receipt of your application and the timeframe within which we expect to notify you of its outcome.

Nature Recovery Award - Application Form 2026

Nature Recovery Award - Application Guidance Notes 2026


To fill out the form, download the file, and once it is open in Word, select 'enable editing'.

Applications will be judged by a professional panel and all applicants will be contacted whether successful or not.



If you have any questions or require further support throughout the application process, please email [email protected].

A newly created large pond at Great Barn Farm using Nature Recovery Award funding, ready to settle into the landscape with the addition of vegetation. You can read more about this project in our blog here.

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