Species Fund Beats Habitat Target: Evaluation finds 4,800ha restored; 51,000 people engaged

A £25 million conservation programme has helped restore thousands of hectares of habitat across England, plant more than 127,500 trees and bring tens of thousands of people into nature-focused activities. According to a final independent evaluation published by The National Lottery Heritage Fund on October 5, 2026, the Species Survival Fund exceeded its original habitat target by almost 30%, highlighting the potential of targeted investment to support wildlife and strengthen local conservation efforts. The programme was launched in 2023 and delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It supported 20 projects across England, with initiatives ranging from woodland creation and wetland restoration to the recovery of rivers and coastal landscapes. Together, the projects delivered habitat improvements across 4,800 hectares, an area comparable to the size of Bath or approximately 6,700 football pitches. The evaluation also recorded 3,596 habitat and species surveys, providing additional information to help conservation organisations understand local ecosystems and plan future restoration work.How the project...