Green Recovery Challenge Fund

In upland parts of Northern England, the Curlew is on the verge of extinction, following a steep decline in its population. The Curlew Recovery Northern England project sees us work in close partnership with farmers and their communities to help halt the decline of Curlew. We focus on two areas within the RSPB's upland priority landscapes, these are the Geltsdale/Hadrian's Wall corridor and the Forest of Bowland.

The project has delivered on the key aims of conservation and restoration, as well as connecting people with nature. Habitat improvements including rush cutting, grazing, shrub removal, scrapes, and wetland features have been carried out, along with monitoring of key variables. As a result of farmer events, activities, and communications, understanding and appreciation of Curlew has grown.

Between Canterbury and the Thames lies a wonderful landscape that includes some of England’s largest woodland complexes, The Blean and the eastern reaches of north Kent’s amazing marshes. A grant of £1,884,900 was awarded in 2020 by the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund to the RSPB, Kent Wildlife Trust and Canterbury City Council to tackle the drying effect of climate change on this landscape and reduce the impact on wildlife.

Works at Seasalter Levels were the result of over 20 years of planning and partnership to turn this Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) into an outstanding wetland nature reserve. Management efforts have seen 228ha of wetlands restored, supporting species including breeding waders, wintering waterfowl, grasshopper, warblers and rare invertebrates.

Blean Woods is one of the rare heath fritillary butterfly’s last UK strongholds. The Blean Woods re-wetting project saw us use water management techniques to fix leaky dams, reducing loss of water and create better, wetter habitats for woodland specialist breeding birds and invertebrates. With volunteers from the local community getting involved, local engagement with the development of the site and a bog restoration project were increased.

Wraik Hill Nature Reserve has benefitted from new fencing, pond clearance, accessibility improvements, scrub removal and new signage, allowing the site to reach its full potential.

This programme of restoration and practical conservation measures, involving surrounding communities was delivered at a landscape scale. The project has built climate change resilience into these sites, creating sustainable habitats for a range of wildlife and beautiful places for people to visit.

A £250,000 grant from the second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund helped to provide over 1,800 children and young people in Birmingham with new and exciting experiences in nature.

The Naturally Connected Communities-Birmingham project had three strands of engagement to connect young families, primary-age children and young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) with local natural heritage.

The RSPB worked alongside The Prince’s Trust, Birmingham Open Spaces Forum, community groups and teachers to deliver a range of hands-on nature activities, enabling children and young people from a diverse range of backgrounds to immerse themselves in local green spaces across the city. Children and young people also learned more about the local threats to nature, and the fund supported them to take their own action to save nature.

The project ran until March 2023. It was designed to give local “Friends of” groups the skills, tools and a co-produced engagement toolkit to connect more young families to nature; to give the city a cohort of teacher ambassadors for school green spaces; and put in place a pathway to a conservation career for NEET young people. Thanks to these achievements, it is hoped that the impact of the project will be felt for years to come.

These projects were funded by the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It has been delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.