A £27 million scheme has been launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Natural England, and the Environment Agency, aiming to improve England's water environment as part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
The Water Environment Grant scheme will involve £9 million being shared between applicants who intend to restore local ecosystems and deliver benefits to the environment and people, each year for three years. Projects may involve restoring river activities, removing obstacles to help the movement of fish, or aiming to improve water quality.
Environment minister Thérèse Coffey said that the scheme "offers a fantastic opportunity for applicants from across the country to secure funding for projects to enhance the environment, boost wildlife and benefit their rural community."
Funding for the scheme will be provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Only charities, including not-for-profit organisations, land managers, and public bodies may apply for a grant. Applicants must have the authority to carry out all the activities in their proposal.
Applicants can apply for funding until 11 May 2018. Funding is set to be awarded in August 2018, with successful applicants expected to start their projects before March 2019 and to complete them by March 2021.
Further details on applications can be found on the UK Government website.
