Biodiversity restoration

Biodiversity restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of degraded ecosystems towards a natural state, aiming to increase the diversity of species and habitats, and is crucial for the health of our planet and future generations. 

Dig it Community Allotment  

Project to restore a community allotment area at Crocus Fields Allotments. Goal to incorporate sustainability education to sessions delivered in 2025, providing knowledge to service users in Earth Repairing, Permaculture, Zero Carbon Initiatives, Ecological Restoration, Climate Change, Waste Management and Sustainability. The new plot will provide additional space for eco-activities and service delivery, following smaller-scale pilots of this larger project that have been taking place over the last 5 years.

Year of grant award: 2025

Contact details: projectmanager@dig-it.org.uk

Thames21 (Rodings Farm Cluster)

The farm cluster has been engaging over 100 farmers from   West Essex through site visits, themed days and social events on topics ranging from deer management to tree planting, pond creation and emerging nature markets. Many of these events attract over 50 local farmers to learn more about the topic in discussion. With members now covering a significant area of the Upper Roding Catchment, the group has become a key driving force in delivering targets against the nature and climate emergency in West Essex. Funding a continuation of momentum by delivering engaging climate and nature-themed events and programmes across the 2025/2026 financial year. Funding is supporting farmer-led host time, as well as Thames21 time to support the cluster in completing further waterway BNG surveys, and associated river restoration plans. As part of this funding, the cluster will continue to deliver climate and nature-themed events to engage farmers across the year, with one of these events focusing on emerging carbon markets.

Year of grant award: 2024 and 2025

Contact details: will.oliver@thames21.org.uk

Sustainable Stansted

2024 - habitat survey and purchase of thermal imaging cameras. Both biodiversity and community engagement projects. Project 1: a. Habitat enhancements in local parks and community spaces to create a network of enhanced habitat across Stansted that will ultimately connect with the wider landscape. The focus will be on actions that can involve members of the community, with activities such as tree planting days. In 2025 the group will aim to host two days of practical conservation activities with the local community. b. Install a number of nest boxes for swifts, house sparrows, owls c. Design and install interpretation posts/ signage.

Project 2: Reducing Community Energy Consumption - funding for two events to promote the use of thermal imaging cameras amongst households in Stansted. We will promote these events via local media outlets"

Year of grant award: 2024 and 2025

Contact details: sustainablestansted@gmail.com

Great Easton and Tilty Parish Council

Proposal to change the management of a 2-hectare area of land in the parish to create the best habitat for nature and wildlife, alongside access. At this point the project is to obtain expert professional advice via site visit and habitat survey following standard methodology (UKHab Ltd  2023) and assess current biodiversity value 2. a desktop study collecting data from the survey and elsewhere on protected and notable species 3. a meeting to discuss opportunities to enhance biodiversity and constraint 4. advice on design, to combine access to the site such as by creating boardwalks, incorporating the existing playground area, and new uses.

Year of grant award: 2025

Contact details: parish.clerk@greateastonparishcouncil.co.uk

Newport River Group (CURAT)

Feasibility studies for 4 projects in total. 1. Restore selected areas to wetland; 2. deliver community education (reduce waste and pollution in the home); 3. create natural flood defences, 're-wiggle' 100m of poor quality channel, sequester carbon, recharge the aquifer, education an facility, and create community engagement in voluntary work; 4. amenity and access to natural green space

Year of grant award: 2024 and 2025

Contact details: kbaker7897@btinternet.com

FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) East CIC 

Working with the landowners of Grange farm and a wetland specialist from FWAG East Consultancy Ltd., the project aims to restore a farmland section of the River Pant's catchment to reduce flood risk to properties in Radwinter, improve water quality, create new wetland habitat and to enhance this accessible area of farmland to benefit the local community. The project forms a discrete part of a wider initiative at Grange farm, that includes natural flood management and river restoration works that include 're-wiggling' a 1km stretch of the river upstream of Radwinter.

Year of grant award: 2025

Contact details: nigel.russell@fwageast.org.uk

Felsted Parish Council

Cut and collect all 3 areas, skim areas to remove growing grass, cultivate and sow full wild flower mix and install bird/bat boxes

Year of grant award: 2024

Contact details: clerk@felsted-pc.gov.uk

Young Wilders CIC

Young Wilders is a non-profit organisation focused on accelerating the nature recovery. Including the instillation of leaky dams. Woodland creation project and stream restoration. Involved 35 children on one day.

Year of grant award: 2024

Contact details: noah@youngwilders.uk

Stansted Parish Council

Establish and/or encourage wildflowers on land that the Parish council owns or can influence, with the aim to increase the biodiversity throughout the Village - To connect the Countryside with the urban environment, creating pockets of food and shelter for wildlife (insects, small mammals, birds, amphibians, etc)

Year of grant award: 2024

Contact details: projects@stanstedmountfitchet-pc.gov.uk

Felsted Parish Council

Assessment of grassed areas by Essex Wildlife Trust which will result in plan as to how best to manage the previously mown areas to increase biodiversity

Year of grant award: 2023

Contact details: clerk@felsted-pc.gov.uk

Birchanger Wood Trust 

Install bee swarm boxes in Birchanger Woods to provide a home for the native bee colonies that swarm. By establishing native wild bee colonies, we can support native bees develop resistant to existing and emerging pathogens that are posing a risk to our native bee population.

Year of grant award: 2023

Contact details: danielbrettdotcom@gmail.com

Quendon and Rickling Parish Council

Clearance work on two Rickling Green ponds; one on the village green and one in Brick Kiln Lane.

Year of grant award: 2023

Contact details: paulwill7@hotmail.com

Stebbing Parish Council

Nature and Biodiversity at Mill Lane Playing Field. Creation of a community nature area to provide the following: Significant improvement in biodiversity; Positive impact on climate change through professional woodland management; Community engagement through design involvement and planting schemes; Educational benefit through habitat/tree signage and local school activities; Use of recycled wood from felling for use as pathways.

Year of grant award: 2023

Contact details: Cllrbuhagiar@stebbing-pc.gov.uk

Wimbish Parish Council

Lucy May Field: Wildflower meadow and Village Allotments. Ellis Common: Wildflower meadow.  Maypole Corner Common: wildflower meadow and pond restoration. Recreation Ground Wildlife Belt

Year of grant award: 2023

Contact details: clerk@wimbish.org.uk