Lake District Foundation

They fund environmental conservation, heritage preservation, and community development within the Lake District and Cumbria. Specific themes include tree planting, hedgerow creation, wildlife habitat restoration, flood mitigation projects, citizen science and education initiatives that increase understanding of hedgerows and woodlands, and community-led projects that enhance cultural and natural heritage. The Foundation also supports sustainable tourism initiatives and low-carbon practices, such as helping small accommodation providers adopt environmentally friendly practices. All work must take place within the Lake District or Cumbria, with priority given to place-based interventions that combine conservation with community engagement.

Grants are open to individuals, community groups (both constituted and unconstituted, including CICs and CIOs), businesses, and farmers dedicated to making a positive impact in the Lake District. The Foundation also supports schools and registered charities. Projects that are inclusive and allow volunteers from the community to be involved are preferred. Applicants must be based in or delivering work within the Lake District or Cumbria.

The Foundation does not fund work that has already taken place, activity that is already funded from other sources, planting of non-native species, or projects that deliver no benefit to the environment. These exclusions apply across their grant programmes.

They offer one-off project grants and allow match funding. The Foundation welcomes unsolicited approaches from applicants. Their funding style is project-focused, supporting delivery costs for clearly defined activities that align with their priorities.