This week, Cotswolds National Landscape has re-launched its ‘Caring for the Cotswolds’ grant scheme which supports grassroots projects that will benefit nature and communities, and support climate action.
The Cotswolds is the largest National Landscape in England. This iconic area is important for its rare flower-rich grasslands, ancient beechwoods, and limestone geology but the environment faces growing human pressure. With the largest resident population of any Protected Landscape, and attracting millions of tourists every year, the Cotswolds needs our care more than ever.
The Caring for the Cotswolds scheme aims to keep the Cotswolds a special place to live, work and visit. Grants from £500 to £5,000 are available for non-profit organisations for projects that will help to conserve and enhance the unique landscape, wildlife, and cultural heritage of the Cotswolds, help the public to better understand and appreciate this special place, and ensure that it can be enjoyed by future generations.
Thanks to the support of local business members, the scheme has been running for 12 years, supporting over 60 projects so far. This year the scheme has received a significant boost in funds from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, making £130,000 available to be awarded as community grants over the next three years.
Reflecting on the support the scheme has received from its business members, Lucy Ellis, Marketing Manager at Cotswolds Distillery said “We’re proud to celebrate a decade-long partnership with Cotswolds National Landscape. We have a shared commitment to protect the environment and the landscape of the region we call home. As we mark this milestone, we’re proud to once again name Cotswolds National Landscape as our ‘For Good Partner’ for 2026, a partnership rooted in shared values of sustainability, authenticity, and community.”
Rebecca Foster, Grants Coordinator at Cotswolds National Landscape, said: “Over the past decade, Caring for the Cotswolds has demonstrated that a little bit of cash can go a long way in supporting projects that benefit nature and people. Thanks to the Heritage Fund, we can now give more money and support more projects.”
Georgina Anstey, a former grantee from Common Soil community farm, highlighted the importance of this opportunity. “Our grant meant that we could support people with additional needs to meaningfully connect to this special landscape through food growing. The application process was really straightforward. Cotswolds National Landscape gave us space and trust to deliver the work and be flexible where needed, while also being supportive and helping to raise the profile of the project.”
Applications for grants are open now. The Cotswolds National Landscape team will accept and review applications throughout the year. Full information about eligibility, the application process, and submission deadlines is available in the Caring for the Cotswolds pages of this website.
Further information
For further information, please contact Rebecca Foster at Cotswolds National Landscape rebecca.foster@cotswolds-nl.org.uk
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
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