It has been one year since Projects for Nature was launched at COP28. In this time, the initiative has raised nearly £700,000 from corporate partners to support a range of nature restoration projects across England.
I’m Justin, the nature lead for The Council for Sustainable Business. We came together with Accenture, Crowdfunder, Defra, Natural England and the Environment Agency, alongside the Wildlife and Countryside Link as a collaborator, to address an urgent gap in the nature funding and finance landscape.
In this post, I’ll share reflections from the last year of Projects for Nature.
Success from the last year
In previous blog posts, we've discussed the significant funding contributions from Lloyds Banking Group and SSEN.
To recap, Lloyds has committed £250,000 to support three nature projects in England, while SSEN has pledged nearly £250,000 to fund two projects within their license area.
One of the projects SSEN contributed to was Heal Rewilding, SSEN's donation to Heal Rewilding supports the management of the charity's 460-acre nature recovery site in Somerset.
The funding has been used to protect emerging vegetation from deer and supports the introduction of native ecosystem engineers like pigs, cattle, and ponies.
Weald to Waves, supported by Lloyds Banking Group, is building a 100-mile nature recovery corridor across Sussex, linking 20,000 hectares of habitats along rivers to the coast. It aims to boost biodiversity, reduce flooding, capture carbon, and support the rural economy. Led by land managers, the project combines ecological restoration with sustainable farming, offering a model for recovery in developed landscapes.
Partnership and Collaboration
Collaboration is key to restoring nature at scale, helping to contribute to the growth of a national Nature Recovery Network.
Gareth Williams, Project Lead for Weald to Waves highlights the vital role platforms like Projects for Nature play in bridging the gap in nature finance funding:
“Projects for Nature has helped to broker a significant partnership between Weald to Waves and Lloyds Banking Group, supporting the creation of a 100-mile nature recovery corridor across Sussex.
This funding partnership has provided Weald to Waves with visibility and collaborative opportunities, whilst supporting farmers, land managers, communities and businesses start their journey to restore nature at scale, with Lloyds providing a learning environment in which to explore green finance mechanisms.
As public sources of funding for nature recovery projects become harder to access, platforms like Projects for Nature, which bring together win-win partnerships between projects and private finance, are needed now more than ever.”
This partnership demonstrates how innovative financing, and collaborative platforms can unlock opportunities for meaningful environmental impact.
New projects coming up
We’re excited to announce the addition of 10 new projects onto our platform, bringing our total to 34. We sought projects that focus on urban environments and marine, coastal and estuarine ecosystem regeneration, further broadening the scope and geographical diversity of our initiative.
From restoring vital seagrass meadows along our coasts to rejuvenating chalk streams in Cambridge, these initiatives are transforming habitats and supporting biodiversity.
In our cities, innovation meets community with projects like NightWatch urban biodiversity monitoring, tree planting in Bristol to combat heat stress, and the restoration of London’s “ghost ponds.”
Beyond the environmental benefits, these initiatives are rooted in community involvement—whether it’s through nature courses for children in deprived areas or wellbeing walks along East London’s art-filled nature trail.
For instance, ‘The Line’ will focus on fostering connections with nature that promote wellbeing and access to East London’s unique waterways, through programmes aimed at reducing loneliness, building confidence outdoors and creating employment opportunities for local young people through art, heritage, and nature-based activities.
Together, these projects showcase the power of combining ecological restoration with meaningful community engagement.
We’re in the shortlist for an award
I am proud to share that Projects for Nature has made the shortlist for the 2025 edie Awards in the Partnership and Collaboration category.
This recognition highlights the incredible teamwork and shared vision behind Projects for Nature, which brings together diverse stakeholders to drive meaningful and lasting change for nature and communities.
How to get involved
If you’re a business and ready to make a meaningful impact, join this growing movement for nature. Register your interest and be part of the change.
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