Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme Restoration Grant

This is a guidance note for the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme (NCPGS). It is intended to allow the NCPGS Team to engage the market before the application window is opened. Please see attached the guidance for the aims of the scheme and details of the forthcoming opportunity. Please note we reserve the right to make amendments to this guidance and any further attached documents prior to the release of the ITA. Please also note that the Approach to market and Contract start dates listed above are indicative only and subject to change.

Update 24-Feb: an updated copy of the guidance document dated 23-Feb is now attached.

Scheme background

The Government has committed more than £750 million to a Nature for Climate Fund, including for peat restoration and tree planting programmes. As part of this, Natural England (NE) is delivering the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme (NCPGS). This competitive scheme will run from 2021 to 2025.

The NCPGS aims to:

• set 35,000 ha of degraded peatland in England on a path to restoration by March 2025
• reduce emissions from peat by 9 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050, with continued reductions after that

These targets are linked to the England Peat Action Plan. Peatland restoration will also deliver wider environmental and social benefits. It will: contribute to the Nature Recovery Network (NRN); enhance ecosystems and biodiversity; improve water quality; provide natural flood management; protect the historic environment; give opportunities for people to connect with nature.

The NCPGS includes the Restoration Grant and the Discovery Grant. This project is for Round 2 of the Restoration Grant which will fund peatland restoration and its associated eligible costs. The Restoration Grant is a multi-year grant and funds are intended for projects where there is a complete programme of restoration works identified for at least the first year of the agreement.

The Restoration Grant provides up to 75% of total project costs.