Rewilding Britain – Rewilding Innovation Fund.

The Rewilding Innovation Fund is provided by funding from the Dormywood Trust, the Evolution Education Trust, The Vintry, Charles Langdale, and others, and is administrated by Rewilding Britain.

Objectives of Fund

This fund aims to foster new and ambitious community rewilding projects, and to remove barriers to rewilding projects within Britain, whether they’re at the early planning stages or want to move a project one step wilder. Funding will be awarded to projects with potential for the highest impact for people and nature.

Value Notes

Grants of up to £15,000 are available. It is expected that most awards will be less than £10,000.

Who Can Apply

To apply for funding, projects must be: 

• Based in Britain 
• Part of the Rewilding Network (includes community, private and public landowners, and managers of rewilding areas on the land and at sea).
• Rewilding at scale (more than 40 hectares) according to Rewilding Britain’s rewilding principles. This can be an individual landholding or a cluster of landholdings. It is recommended that applicants who are rewilding on a smaller scale form a group or network to apply. 

Local groups and networks can also apply for any innovative projects that will help to upscale rewilding.

Previously unsuccessful applicants can reapply for funding in this round.

Location

England, Wales, and Scotland.

Restrictions

Funding cannot be provided for land purchase or capital costs, such as fencing.

Eligible Expenditure

Funding is for works that could potentially unlock further funding or move a project in scale.

Examples of potential applications include:

• Business plans and strategies.
• Community engagement activities or co-design.
• Feasibility studies.
• Technological innovations.

Previously successful projects have included:

• A social prescribing and community outreach programme run from a nature-based site.
• Community forest planting.
• Modelling carbon capture.
• A feasibility study to identify potential areas for seagrass restoration.
• A tree seeding experiment.

Funding can cover costs such as direct interventions, or any expertise that a project requires. Any funding awarded must be spent within 15 months. 

How To Apply

The deadline for applications is 29 August 2025. 

There is a two-stage application process:

• Applicants should first become a Rewilding Network member through the online portal on the Rewilding Britain website.
• Applicants can then submit an online application form. Shortlisted projects will be invited to pitch their project to the steering group in a 10-minute online presentation. 

Guidance notes are available from the Rewilding Britain website – Rewilding Innovation Fund | Rewilding Britain