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Community Nature Recovery Grants

Surrey community groups can apply for up to £5,000 for nature recovery projects.

The Community Nature Recovery Grant aims to help restore habitats and green spaces, engaging community groups as key delivery partners within the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS).  

Surrey is facing growing challenges from increased flooding, wildfire and biodiversity decline. This is due to factors such as habitat loss, environmental degradation and climate change, which compound to exacerbate the impact of extreme weather events. 

These challenges threaten our local economy, key habitats, and residents’ livelihoods, as evidenced by the fact that Surrey has seen: 

  • 11.5% of Surrey’s native species becoming extinct over the last few decades  
  • A 200% year on year increase in outdoor fires from June 2024 to 2025 (in fact Surrey Fire and Rescue recently had their first January-occurrence of a wildfire, traditionally one of the wettest months) 
  • 50,391 homes predicted to be a risk of flooding within the next 25 years – double the number at risk today 

According to Surrey County Council’s resident insight surveys, nature loss is the most commonly seen impact of climate change already being seen by Surrey residents, followed by disruption to road and rail, and then flooding. Nearly 50% of residents report nature loss locally, whilst over 1/3 have seen flooding and transport disruption.

The loss and fragmentation of habitats is not just detrimental to wildlife. It can have severe knock-on effects from reducing the capacity of landscapes to hold back water during episodes of heavy rain which leads to destructive flooding, to lowering access to quality green spaces which are crucial for human health and wellbeing.  

The LNRS is a statutory plan required by the Environment Act 2021, which aims to reverse nature loss and restore key habitats through joined-up solutions.

Surrey County Council (SCC) is the responsible authority for the delivery of the LNRS – but delivering the intended outcomes will require significant collaboration and work across partnerships.  

SCC is offering this grant with the aim of engaging community groups and charities, residents associations and parish councils as key delivery partners under the LNRS. This can enable communities to play a crucial role in improving their local area, restoring nature, and creating several co-benefits which can help to reduce flood and fire risk through holistic solutions.  

Groups applying for these nature grants should demonstrate delivery of LNRS priorities, ideally bringing in co-benefits around the risks mentioned above. Surrey community groups that apply for funding should describe how nature recovery and co-benefits are achieved by their project, including factors such as:  

  • decorative Creation, restoration and management of priority habitats
  • decorative Reduction in fire risk
  • decorative Slowed water flow to reduce flood risk
  • decorative Strengthened community resilience, including improvements in air quality and reduction of urban heat
  • decorative Capacity building for community groups working on nature recovery
  • decorative Improved access to nature to boost mental health and wellbeing

Groups can apply for grants from £500 to £5000. In exceptional circumstances, 1 or 2 projects will be considered for up to £10,000 funding if a high impact on LNRS and flood mitigation priorities is demonstrated. 

The deadline to apply is Friday 7th November.

 You can download the Application Form and Guidance Document below. For further information, email greenerfutures@surreycc.gov.uk.  

DOWNLOAD – NATURE GRANTS APPLICATION FORM 

DOWNLOAD – NATURE GRANTS GUIDANCE PACK