A MAJOR annual fund to tackle the nature and climate crises is being launched by charity Rewilding Britain, with £100,000 to be awarded to one large-scale rewilding project every year.

The Rewilding Challenge Fund encourages applicants across Britain to ‘Think Big, Act Wild’, and has been set up to nurture innovative and pioneering initiatives which show maximum potential for upscaling rewilding on land and at sea.

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The significant new award is being made available because of increasing demand for large-scale rewilding projects. There is growing recognition that rewilding is a key solution for tackling the nature and climate emergencies, with extensive benefits for people including nature-based economic opportunities.

Sara King, rewilding manager at Rewilding Britain, said: “We are absolutely delighted to launch the Rewilding Challenge Fund under the heading ‘Think Big, Act Wild’. We’re looking to scale up rewilding – a vital step if Britain is to achieve the goal of major nature restoration across 30 per cent of the country’s land and seas by 2030.

“We’re really keen to hear from community groups who can join together to bid for ambitious, large-scale rewilding projects, as well as from the managers and users of large areas of land and sea.”

Rewilding Britain is inviting those interested in applying for the Rewilding Challenge Fund to submit a short expression of interest before January 17. Applicants must be members of Rewilding Britain’s Rewilding Network, or be eligible to join.

Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application, and the winning project will be announced by the end of March 2023.

All details, including how to apply, can be found at rewildingbritain.org.uk/the-rewilding-network/rewilding-challenge-fund.