Sussex Lund

Sussex Lund is a grant programme supported by Lund Trust and administered by the High Weald National Landscape team.

It supports small-scale, practical projects that improve the landscape of the High Weald National Landscape and the towns, villages and hamlets on its fringes.

It also supports projects that help people to experience the landscape and build connections to it. Previous successful applications include:

  • Planting community orchards
  • Restoring ponds and wetland areas 
  • Hedge planting to restore historic boundary lines
  • Managing precious wildflower grassland; and 
  • Creating new habitats for dormice and barn owls.

Projects could also include community events or initiatives that celebrate and raise awareness of the High Weald landscape and its special qualities. This year we are keen to support projects that improve nature and scenic beauty in community green spaces; particularly in urban areas on the fringes of the High Weald.

Sussex Lund will reopen for new applications in April 2024.

However, it’s never too early to talk to us for next year’s round of funding. If you think you may have an idea for a project, please read all the information on this page and then submit an enquiry using the button below; we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.

Over £1million

Sussex Lund funding awarded to more than 200 conservation projects in the High Weald since 2017.

In the meantime, watch our videos to learn how the Sussex Lund grant programme has helped transform habitats and recover nature at three locations across the High Weald AONB…

If you’re looking for project inspiration, you can download grant summaries from previous years below.

Are you a farmer or landowner? You are now eligible to apply for another grant programme as well as Sussex Lund.

We are now running Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, which gives grants of up to £250,000 for projects in England’s AONBs and National Parks.

We can help you develop projects that recover nature, tackle climate change, provide opportunities for people to discover the landscape and support sustainable farm businesses. Click the button below to learn more and register your interest.

How Sussex Lund works

The programme is focused on the High Weald AONB (which covers parts of West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, and Surrey) and the hamlets, villages and towns on its fringes. Project locations could include churchyards, school grounds, farms, woodlands, recreation areas and roadside verges. View a map of the High Weald AONB boundary. 

Sussex Lund will consider supporting any project that makes tangible improvements to the High Weald’s landscape. For example, projects that:

  • Improve its habitats, such as creating ponds and wetland, removing non-native species (for example rhododendron and leylandii), planting new hedges and restoring old ones, planting trees, coppicing woodland, planting orchards, developing more species-rich grassland, putting up bird, bug and bat boxes or creating more wildlife-friendly allotments and greenspace.
  • Improve its scenic beauty, such as planting street trees, reducing sign and light pollution, removing or screening eyesores, replacing ‘hard’, man-made boundaries with soft, natural boundaries, clearing litter.

Sussex Lund will also supports projects that improve people’s experience of the High Weald and nature where they live so that residents and visitors :

  • Develop long lasting connections to the landscape
  • Have a better knowledge and understanding of the landscape and nature; and
  • Take action to improve and celebrate the landscape and to share its benefits and special qualities.

Particular weight will be given to projects that support young people, new residents in the area, visitors and those living in poverty, including those who are nature deprived.

Sussex Lund is open to farmers and land managers, community groups, schools, churches, parish councils, charities, and other not-for-profit organisations. If you’re a private landowner or a for-profit organisation you will need to demonstrate that the landscape and public benefit is greater than any private gain.

Sussex Lund will consider applications from past applicants for new projects, but not for the continuation and maintenance of previously funded projects.

This year Sussex Lund is working in partnership with national charity, Plantlife, to offer free advice and support to applicants seeking funds for wildflower meadow restoration and creation projects. Plantlife can produce a management plan and help with project implementation if your grant application is successful. 

Sussex Lund is a collaboration between the High Weald AONB Partnership and Lund Trust.

One-off grants of between £500 and £15,000 are available. Ideally you will spend the grant within a year of accepting your grant offer but projects that take longer will be considered.

Sussex Lund may award larger grants for collaborative projects involving two or more organisations (eg, community groups, charities, parish councils) or for multi-year projects.

There is no requirement for match funding, however, the Grants Panel decision will take into account your own or others’ commitment to the project in the form of cash, in-kind support or time.

Sussex Lund opens for applications in June 2023 and closes in October. The Sussex Lund Grants Panel meets to consider applications in December and we will tell you the Panel’s decision by the end of December 2023.

It is essential that all potential applicants contact the High Weald team for informal advice about the suitability of your project and how to submit a strong application that meets the Sussex Lund criteria.

If you think you may have a project for 2023 please complete our enquiry form to register your interest.

We will send out application forms to all potential applicants once the scheme opens for applications.