Nature Recovery Fund

Nature Recovery Fund

Maidstone Borough Council has £488,000 over a series of funding tranches available for Nature Recovery projects in Maidstone.

The purpose of this fund will be to deliver on our Nature Recovery Declaration and Commitments.

Grants will likely be medium to large (£10,000 - £50,000). If you are interested in smaller community grants for climate change specific to nature-based solutions, please see the Climate Action Fund.

Deadlines are as follows:

• Phase 1 application deadline: 31 December 2025
• Phase 2 application deadline: 31 March 2026
• Phase 3 application deadline: 31 March 2027

For full information about eligibility, the process, and outcomes, read the Nature Recovery Fund Prospectus below.

Apply for the Nature Recovery Fund

Nature Recovery Fund Prospectus

The objective of the Nature Recovery Fund is to deliver new, expanded, or restored wildlife-rich native habitat that supports species recovery within Maidstone. There is a total of £488,000 available. Grant amounts will be medium to large, with values between £10,000 to £50,000. For exceptional projects, higher grant values may be considered. It is scheduled to run between 2025 and 2027.

Phases

The fund will be open for delivery over one phase:

• phase one: £98,000 in Autumn 2025
• phase two: £195,000 in Spring 2026
• phase three: £195,000 in Spring 2027

Project focus

Projects should aim to create, enhance, or restore wildlife habitats, including areas of land that support biodiversity, in particular threatened or endangered native species. This might involve habitat creation, restoration, or management practices to improve biodiversity, but must prioritise priority species of flora and fauna as listed in Section 41 of the NERC Act 2006, species classified as Extinct in the Wild, Regionally Extinct, Threatened (critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable) or Near Threatened on IUCN Red Lists at England scale, GB scale or International scale (if there are no England/GB scale assessments).

What is not eligible

Selling biodiversity units or funding research will not be suitable or successful. Private individuals cannot apply. However, an individual as a consultant could be a partner (or sub-contractor) in a bid led by an eligible body. Projects that fail to demonstrate due diligence, risk assessment, or maintenance consideration will be excluded.

The bid process

Who can apply

The Nature Recovery Fund is available for organisations (charitable, not-for-profit, or community-based) and joint projects on Maidstone Borough Council land. Parish councils are eligible to apply. All projects must demonstrate delivery on the biodiversity and/or climate change action plans. Those not registered may work in partnership with a lead organisation that is registered or formally constituted with its own bank account, with at least two unrelated signatories.

Organisations must be based in Maidstone borough or, if located outside of the borough, demonstrate clearly that the funding will exclusively benefit Maidstone residents and address local needs. Organisations trading as a commercial business, other local authorities, or organisations that are traditionally funded by a local authority are generally not eligible. Other types of organisations, including community interest companies (CICs), will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Awards will not be made to private individuals. Organisations must have been operational for a minimum period before applying, demonstrating a track record of activity.

When can applications be made

The Nature Recovery Fund will be delivered across 3 phases:

• Phase I (Autumn 2025)
• Phase II (Spring 2026)
• Phase III (Spring 2027)

Design and delivery plan

The project design and delivery plan must demonstrate a robust structure, methodology, delivery timeline, and capacity to successfully achieve the stated outcomes.

Project scale

The Nature Recovery Fund will consider projects across the scale spectrum, from smaller, more focused recovery projects, to larger-scale, that are readily able to deliver species recovery objectives.

Location

Diversity in geographic areas, like protected landscapes or regions with identified nature recovery priorities, will be considered as part of the selection criteria to ensure a variety of projects are delivered. The project must be delivered within the Maidstone Borough boundaries.

Partnerships

Partnerships between organisations will be considered, with a lead organisation to represent a larger project.

Environmental impact

Projects will be assessed based on their potential environmental benefits, including species recovery, climate resilience, and overall ecosystem health.

Social impact

Projects may also be evaluated for their social benefits, such as community engagement, equity, and climate vulnerabilities, public access, and educational opportunities. To mitigate operational and safeguarding risks, organisations must have the necessary policies and procedures in place appropriate to their activities and the nature of the project. As a minimum, all applicants must demonstrate they have:

• Safeguarding policies for children, young people, and vulnerable adults, where applicable.
• Public Liability Insurance appropriate to their activities.
• Health and Safety policy and procedures.
• Equalities, diversity and inclusion policy.

Feasibility and costs

Grant applications will need to demonstrate the project's feasibility, its potential costs, who the work will be completed by, maintenance considerations, land ownership or intervention rights, how it aligns with the available funding, and how it delivers on the Biodiversity Strategy. Projects must deliver good value for money.

The Council must be satisfied that the applicant has the necessary expertise, governance, and resources to see the project through to successful completion. Payment will generally be made in advance of project delivery, but there may be some conditions that necessitate payment to be made via instalments (e.g., quarterly). Where appropriate, instalment frequency and size will be commensurate with the overall scale and timeframe for delivery and be subject to robust due diligence and appropriate justification.

To ensure proper accountability and financial integrity in the use of public funds, organisations should demonstrate robust financial management. This includes having:

• Robust financial controls and anti-fraud procedures.
• A clear budgeting process and evidence of financial stability appropriate to the scale of the proposed project.
• Transparent financial reporting is suitable for their size and activities.

Long-term sustainability

Projects should aim to deliver long-term benefits to nature and the environment. Projects should demonstrate in their bid how the project will be maintained over time.

Impact

Projects should include how success measures will be captured and reported over time, to quantify impact.

Equality

All external applications will be considered against the eligibility criteria via a panel, and will include an independent assessment to ensure objectivity in selection. There is no limit to the number of applications submitted by a party.

Bid Assessment

Governance

All grant applications will be assessed using a pre-defined assessment eligibility criteria and scored against the scoring matrix below. Decisions will be made using a panel including the Cabinet Member for Climate Transition & Nature Recovery and an independent biodiversity expert. Full eligibility criteria will be made available to all applicants before they apply for funding. Funds available in each tranche will be awarded according to the eligibility criteria and scoring matrix. Once fully allocated, lower-scoring projects (even if valid) would be unsuccessful for that tranche. ‘Unsuccessful’ therefore has two potential outcomes:

• unsuccessful this time, but possible to apply to other tranches
• unsuccessful due to unsuitability

Movement of funds between tranches will be at the discretion of the Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery.

Scoring Matrix

Scoring scale

• Excellent (10/10): Fully meets or exceeds expectations with strong evidence
• Good (7.5/10): Meets expectations with minor gaps
• Adequate (5/10): Meets minimum requirements
• Poor (2.5/10): Weak evidence or unclear alignment
• None (0/10): Does not meet criteria

Threshold

Applications scoring below 60% overall may be considered ineligible or require revision before approval.

Panel

The decision on awarding grants will lie with the panel, which will include an independent biodiversity expert and the Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery.

Bid outcomes

Agreement

Successful applications will be subject to a signed Grant Agreement or Deed with Maidstone Borough Council. Successful applicants will be expected to sign a grant funding agreement. Recipients will receive a grant offer letter (for amounts up to £9,999) or deed (for amounts over £10,000) detailing:

• The awarded grant or deed amount requiring acceptance by an eligible signatory.
• The project description and agreed outcomes.
• The payment schedule and any conditions for payment.
• Key milestones, monitoring and reporting requirements.
• The deadline for formal acceptance of the offer.
• Reference to the full grant or deed agreement to be signed if applicable.
• Payment in instalments, depending on project scale.

Grant terms and conditions

Activity eligibility

To qualify for a grant under the Nature Recovery Fund, it is a requirement of the grant that only those costs which are directly attributable to bringing the capital asset(s) into a usable (functioning) state or condition can be funded.

Activities in scope for capital funding

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the types of activities which may be included:

• habitat enhancement and/or creation works
• purchase and installation of new site infrastructure
• preliminary surveys to inform subsequent capital delivery, and subsequent surveys/monitoring to assess their effectiveness
• equipment purchase
• conservation translocations
• enabling activities that are required to get a capital asset to a usable/functioning state/condition
• directly attributable staff costs
• research and development (minor elements only)

What is research and development?

Research refers to original and planned investigations undertaken with the prospect of gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding. Development refers to the application of research findings or other knowledge to a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved materials, products, processes, systems/methodology. The proposed activity must have elements of all five of these criteria to be eligible:

• Aimed at new findings (novel). This includes acquiring new knowledge directed primarily towards a specific aim or objective. It also encompasses experimental development projects, aimed at creating knowledge in support of the development of new concepts and ideas related to the design of new products or processes.
• Based on new concepts or ideas with the objective of improving on existing knowledge (creative). This includes R&D to improve methods or ways of doing things.
• Uncertain about its final outcome (uncertain).
• Systematically performed. R&D is conducted in a planned way, with the process and outcomes documented (systematic); and
• lead to results that have the potential to be reproduced (transferable and/or reproducible).

Activities not in scope for capital funding

The following is a non-exhaustive list of the types of activities that should not be included:

• general communications and engagement work
• routine survey and monitoring
• routine management and maintenance
• works which are included in an existing agri-environment, or other, agreement, research and development

The above activities can be included in a project proposal if they are funded by the grant applicant or by another source of funding, and this contributory funding is welcomed.

Conservation translocations eligibility

Conservation translocations, which include species reintroduction, reinforcement, and assisted colonisation, will be eligible as long as the following conditions are met:

• The project follows the ‘Reintroductions and other conservation translocations code and guidance for England’ which can be found here: Reintroductions and conservation translocations in England: code, guidance and forms - GOV.UK.
• The reasons for decline or local extinction are understood and impediments to persistence mitigated.
• The project aims for there to be a reasonable expectation of persistence of the population for at least one year at the reintroduction site location.
• The translocation would add value to the habitat(s) and enhance site function in line with clear conservation objectives.
• Costs incurred are directly attributable to getting the habitat and its species components into the condition required for them to function effectively.

Beaver reintroduction eligibility

We won’t be accepting reintroduction projects for beavers as wild releases are not currently permitted.

Can the scheme fund management and maintenance activities, for example, the ongoing management of capital assets?

Capital-only funding cannot pay for management and maintenance; applicants would need to build alternative legacy funding into their projects to ensure the investment is maintained beyond the funding period.

Is work eligible on privately owned land and/or government-owned land?

The scheme can fund eligible works on privately or publicly owned land for which the grant recipient has “management control” i.e. ownership or a formal agreement in place with the owner. Government land, including NNRs, is also eligible for capital works, but Government bodies are not eligible to apply for grants

You will need to have all necessary consents and landowner/partner permissions secured before applying to the grant scheme.

Can applicants buy land on which to deliver species recovery?

Land purchase is only possible in exceptional circumstances, where it can be shown that this is the best solution for the recovery of a target species and offers good value for money. Land purchase would require the involvement of conveyancers, detailed evidence of market-value costs, and a covenant or agreement which stipulates that the land would be continually managed for wildlife.

Is land within an agri-environment scheme eligible?

Grants from the SRPCGS can be active on the same land as Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreements provided the work is not:

• a commitment under the ES or CS agreement
• claimed under the ES or CS agreement; needed due to a failure to deliver the ES or CS agreement
• at odds with the aims of the ES or CS agreement
• included in an ELM Landscape Recovery project

The Council reserves the right to request further details or evidence of any policy or procedure deemed necessary for the safe and effective delivery of the proposed project. It must be satisfied that the applicant has the necessary expertise, governance,and financial surety, and resources to see the project through to successful completion.

Monitoring

Long-term sustainability

Projects should aim to deliver long-term benefits to nature and the environment. Projects should demonstrate in their bid how the project will be maintained over time.

Reporting

Grant recipients will be required to monitor the progress of their projects and report on outcomes at key milestones. This includes submitting brief progress updates, evidence of delivery (such as photos or survey data), and a final report outlining achievements against the original objectives.

Monitoring should demonstrate measurable environmental and, where applicable, social impacts. Grant recipients will be required to provide this evidence in line with the grant agreement and upon request by Maidstone Borough Council. This is to ensure consistency and transparency across all funded projects.

Nature Recovery Fund

Maidstone Borough Council has £488,000 over a series of funding tranches available for Nature Recovery projects in Maidstone.

The purpose of this fund will be to deliver on our Nature Recovery Declaration and Commitments.

Grants will be medium to large (£10,000 to £50,000). If you are interested in smaller community grants for climate change specific to nature-based solutions, please see the Climate Action Fund.

For full information about eligibility, the process, and outcomes, read the Nature Recovery Fund Prospectus.

Apply for the Nature Recovery Fund

Climate Action Fund

Maidstone Borough Council has £12,000 in funding available for Climate Change projects in Maidstone that focus specifically on nature-based solutions.

The purpose of this fund will be to deliver on our Nature Recovery Declaration and Commitments and our commitment toward net zero, both as a Council and within the Borough

Grants will be small to medium (£1,000 to £3,000). If you are interested in larger nature recovery grants, please see the Nature Recovery Fund.

For full information about eligibility, the process, and outcomes, read the Climate Action Fund Prospectus.

Apply for the Climate Action Fund