County council launches £50,000 nature recovery fund for communities  

Local communities across Surrey are being empowered to take action for nature, thanks to a new £50,000 grant programme from Surrey County Council. The funding aims to support community efforts to restore habitats, enhance green spaces, and build resilience against the growing impacts of climate change. 

Grants ranging from £500 to £5,000* are available to a wide range of local organisations, including parish and town councils and local action groups. The grants will help deliver projects aligned with Surrey’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), a county-wide initiative to protect biodiversity and strengthen natural ecosystems. 

Surrey continues to face environmental challenges which threaten the local economy, key habitats, and residents’ livelihoods. These include: 

• A 200% year-on-year increase in outdoor fires between June 2024 and June 2025 

• Over 50,000 homes projected to be at risk of flooding within the next 25 years, double the number at risk today. 

By investing in communities, the Council is fostering a collaborative approach to climate resilience. Projects which will be considered for funding should deliver on the LNRS’s priorities and bring benefits that create, restore and manage habitats including:  

• Reduction in fire risk  

• Slowed water flow to reduce flood risk  

• Strengthened community resilience, including improvements in air quality and reduction of urban heat   

• Capacity building for community groups working on nature recovery   

• Improved access to nature to boost mental health and wellbeing  

Marisa Heath, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “It is a pivotal moment for nature in Surrey, 11.5% of our native species are thought to be locally extinct with many more species declining in number. We know how vital communities are in making local improvements which is why we have worked so closely with them on our Local Nature Recovery Strategy and are offering this exciting funding opportunity so they can help habitats thrive once again and tackle the impact of climate change.” 

The deadline for applications is Friday 7 November. Application forms can be downloaded from the Together for Surrey website.  

*In exceptional circumstances one to two projects will be considered for up to £10,000 funding.