£2M Nature Recovery Fund Opens to Back Community Environmental Projects

A £2 million Nature Recovery Fund created by South West Water is now open for applications, offering support to community groups focused on improving the environment and water quality across the region.

Backing Local Efforts for Nature and Water

The fund aims to deliver tangible, community-led improvements to nature and water quality across Cornwall, Devon, the Isles of Scilly and a small area of Dorset where South West Water provides wastewater services.

More than 200 people have already taken part in workshops and forums, helping to shape how the fund will work and what its priorities should be.

Susan Davy, CEO of Pennon, said:

“I’m really pleased to see the Nature Recovery Fund help turn ideas into action that will help us to support community-led projects that enhance both nature and water quality. Across the South West, my teams and I have met so many passionate people with a deep connection to the places they live, and this fund is about backing them to make a real difference. More than 200 people have already joined our briefings to share their ideas and I’m excited to see those projects come to life. By working hand in hand with local communities, we can protect and restore our rivers, landscapes and wildlife, creating lasting improvements to water quality, biodiversity, and local pride. This is another step forward in caring for the environment we all love, ensuring that our recovery is shared by nature, by people, and by place.”

What the Fund Supports

The investment will assist environmental partnerships and help expand volunteer programmes focused on biodiversity and conservation.

Collaborative projects to improve rainwater harvesting and catchment management for better bathing water quality are also expected, along with community rainwater storage schemes. These will help manage storm overflow events by diverting or storing rainwater during heavy rainfall.

Funding can also go towards pond creation, tree planting, and other environmental projects shaped by local environmental stakeholders.

How the Fund Works

The Nature Recovery Fund comes from a £24 million package of enforcement measures approved by Ofwat earlier this year.

It offers two levels of grants to suit a range of projects and organisations:

• Small grants – up to £10,000

• Large grants – up to £250,000

Applicants will first submit an Expression of Interest, followed by a full application if successful.

Key Priorities

The fund will support projects that:

• Deliver measurable improvements in biodiversity and water quality through habitat restoration, pond creation, tree planting, and catchment-based schemes.

• Promote natural flow management through rainwater harvesting and shared rainwater storage to reduce pressure on sewer networks.

• Strengthen local environmental organisations by funding training, volunteer coordination and local catchment management plans.

Funding priorities were refined with input from local stakeholders during the Let’s Talk Water Stakeholder Forum on 22nd September and through a series of online briefing sessions.

Applications for the Nature Recovery Fund are open now via South West Water’s website