Southwark biodiversity fund

Applications were open in Autumn 2024, and we are no longer accepting applications for this fund. We expect to inform applicants if their applications are successful in March 2025.

If you have any further questions, email Southwarkbiodiversityfund@southwark.gov.uk. 

The Southwark Biodiversity Fund (SBF) is providing capital grants for biodiversity and greening enhancement projects to constituted not-for-profit organisations. The total funding available is £500,000, which will be allocated in grants for capital projects starting in 2025.

This fund is part of our ongoing work to implement the recommendations of our Citizens’ Jury on Climate Change. In line with their recommendations and Southwark’s Climate Change Strategy and Adaptation Plan, the fund’s key aims are to:

1. Deliver strategically impactful, lasting interventions for biodiversity and nature recovery in Southwark (priority aim), especially in the places and habitats that will make the most difference to nature.
2. Make the borough and its residents more resilient and adapted to our changing climate, for example, through greening and depaving projects that will protect residents from flooding and overheating, especially in areas and communities at greatest risk.
3. Protect, enhance and grow the community benefits that green space and access to nature offer to Southwark residents, particularly in areas and communities with less access to nature or experiencing other inequalities.

While we were looking for projects that contribute to all three aims, this specific funding scheme has been designed with the biodiversity outcome as its key priority aim. Projects related to green space that do not directly provide new habitats for biodiversity (for example, activities to engage people with green space or offer amenity improvements to green space) may be better suited to one of our other funds, such as the Neighbourhoods Fund or Cleaner, Greener, Safer.