Networks for Nature Fund 2024/2025

Cairngorms Trust Networks for Nature Fund 

What is the Cairngorms Trust Networks for Nature Fund?  

The Cairngorms Trust Networks for Nature Fund has been established by the Cairngorms Trust to help develop nature projects specifically related to climate change and to tackle biodiversity decline within the Cairngorms National Park. This year the main themes are creating Networks for Nature, Nature Resilience, Community Nature Projects, Pollinator Projects, Youth Led Projects and Youth Education to encourage young people to be able to access courses to encourage careers in the nature environment, although we will consider other nature-based projects that fit the criteria of the fund. 

We want to encourage nature projects in a way that ensures we protect and replenish our natural and social capital.  

• To increase the Park’s natural capital, we want to support projects that contribute to the conservation and enhancement of nature, help habitats and species in need, mitigate the effects of climate change and reverse biodiversity decline. 
• To increase the Park’s social capital, we want to support projects that work in partnership with others to enhance networks of relationships among people who live and work in the Cairngorms and/or contribute to strengthening our communities and businesses through community capacity building.  

 To achieve these aims, the Fund wishes to support Cairngorms communities and the businesses based in those communities, in taking locally led action to: 

• Enhance and/or increase the size, connectivity and quality of important nature habitats through projects such as: native tree planting, wildlife and wildflower areas within communities, wetland habitat creation, creating corridors for nature to thrive throughout the Cairngorms landscape.  
• Support and protect land based and freshwater plant and animal species, especially those which are threatened and Cairngorms Priority Species, through conservation initiatives including trailing of innovative techniques, species re-introduction, and creating stepping stones for nature. 
• Increase the area of pollinator friendly habitat such as creating wildflower meadows and grasslands, flower rich road verges – community pollinator projects for example. 
• Encourage Youth Led (under 30 years old) nature-based projects 
• Fund Young people to gain nature-based qualifications encouraging local young people to gain skills that will increase their chances of gaining nature-based employment in the future. 

How much is the Fund worth?  

The Fund has £90,000 available to support projects within the Cairngorms National Park. All projects will need to be completed in a full calendar year from the date on the Offer of Grant letter. 

 What will it fund?  

The Fund is interested in building networks for nature to encourage nature to flourish within the Cairngorms.  We always have climate change and action to reverse biodiversity decline in the Cairngorms National Park at the heart of our criteria for a successful project. We want successful applicants to concentrate on projects that promote capacity building and up-skilling of communities, instilling the skills needed to manage project outputs and realise benefits beyond the end of the project. Projects should ideally address the majority of the Principles of the Fund set out above in order to qualify for consideration. 

We anticipate that the majority of the projects will be looking for funding in the £5,000 – £15,000 range but will also look to fund a number of smaller community projects or qualification courses that may apply up to and around £1000. 

What are the key dates?  

• Opens – 3rd June 24 
• One round application process only – cut-off date for receipt of completed applications Sunday 21st July 24 
• Fund closes to new applications – 21st July 24 
• Applications received, logged and acknowledged – on receipt 
• Applications scored by initial panel W/C 22nd July and the Trust Board 21st August 24 
• Successful applicants notified – W/C 26th August 24 
• Offer letters sent out – W/C 26th August 24 
• Offer letters returned – 10 days from date of Offer of Grant 
• Projects start date – on receipt of email confirming start date 
• Project completion by latest – one calendar year from date on Offer of Grant 

There is more information contained with the guidance notes below.

Ready to apply?  

If you have read the above and think you have a project that meets with the Cairngorms Trust Networks for Nature Fund Principles and Criteria, then please apply using the application form.