Biodiversity Improvement Project Grants
South Ribble recognises the role that communities have in enhancing the local area in which they live, work and play. This is evidence through the work of many groups taking proactive action, from planting flowers to litter picking their local area.
The Council’s Climate Team are making an initial £10,000 available to community groups and other organisations by way of small grants of up to £200 for projects that will show community benefit and improve the wildlife value of the local area
These small community grants are for projects that improve biodiversity in the local area and in doing so have several co benefits, including but not limited to the following -
- improving the visual aspect of an area
- improving wellbeing
- giving a food source for pollinators
- improving air quality
- creating a source of food and shelter for wildlife
- attracting wildlife to an area by creating stepping stones
- helping urban cooling (greening our town centres)
- opportunities for growing food and reducing food poverty
- opportunities for learning
- opportunities for outdoor engagement, volunteering, social cohesion
- opportunities for community involvement
- encouraging reuse, recycling and upcycling and sustainable resources
- improving rainwater absorption and slowing the rate of runoff
Projects must be completed within 6 months of the grant funding being awarded.
If you have a project that is dependant on the season (e.g. autumn bulb planting or winter tree planting), please ensure that your application is submitted with enough time for us to assess the application and award the grant, so that you can complete the project within the 6 month window.
Applications are open to any community group, uniform group, school, parish or town council, business, faith group, voluntary group or charity with a group bank account.
Projects must take place in a community space, school grounds, park, front of business premises (or area where the public have access) within the Borough of South Ribble, on land that is owned by or where the applicant has an agreement with a local landowner to carry out work on their land.
Sorry but we cannot fund projects in private gardens or in areas where there is no public or community access.
Applications can be submitted via the Microsoft Form and will be assessed by the Climate Team and appropriate Portfolio Holder / Lead Member for Climate Change / Director on a monthly basis.
Each application will be scored against the following:
- Meets all eligibility criteria
- Project outcomes are clear and achievable in 6 months
- Budgets submitted are accurate
- Demonstrates community involvement during or at completion of the project
- Demonstrates community benefit
- Demonstrates wildlife / biodiversity benefit
- Demonstrates some co benefits
- The project demonstrates value for money
- The project outcomes are sustainable
- There is ongoing management for the project in place
Only one application per group per year will be allowed.
Grants of up to £200 will be made to groups who can demonstrate they meet the criteria, until the £10,000 limit for this first phase of funding has been reached.
Biodiversity Improvement Project 2025/2026 – Application
Please complete a Biodiversity Improvement Project Application Form in as much detail as possible to maximise your chances of receiving funding and to ensure we make best use of the funds. To complete the form, you will need the following details:
- project description
- project objectives
- sketch, map or plan of your project location and boundary
- evidence of landowner permission
- project costs
- project delivery timetable including key dates, activity targets, person responsible for delivery and key milestones (how you know your project is on track)
Apply for Biodiversity Improvement Project Grant
Please send the additional details via email to climate.emergency@southribble.gov.uk