The Community Access Fund supports local people to:
– Make capital improvements that enhance landscape accessibility OR
– Run pilot / taster activities or events to create more inclusive opportunities for everyone to experience the landscape.
About the Fund
Dorset National Landscape wants to support a more diverse range of people to engage with their local natural & cultural heritage to help heritage thrive, be more resilient, valued and cared for now and into the future. To achieve this ambition, we will drive forward, support and coordinate the growth of the Nature Buddies Network.
The Nature Buddies Network is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players. With funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and DEFRA supported funding we have been able to launch the Community Access Fund as part of the Nature Buddies Network.
What do we fund?
We fund projects that make local places easier to access, more welcoming and more enjoyable for everyone. This includes capital improvements to community greenspaces and taster activity sessions that help more people to connect with nature, address inequalities, and celebrate the Dorset National Landscape’s natural and cultural heritage.
If you have an idea that could make your area even better, we’re here to help you bring it to life.
The Nature Buddies Community Access Fund can support projects that:
Improve access through a range of capital projects including practical work such as access enhancements, changing stiles or gates, installing handrails, providing sit spots for people to enjoy watching nature or improving access to nature sites in communities, research projects, partnership development and training.
Run pilot / taster activities or events to create more inclusive opportunities for everyone to experience the landscape.
We are particularly keen to encourage projects that link to our key priorities:
- Encourage and support underserved communities to connect to the National Landscape including, adults who face barriers to accessing heritage and are at risk of social isolation, people with disabilities and people from ethnic minority backgrounds
- Remove barriers to all people’s enjoyment and involvement in the countryside
- Bring organisations and people together in tackling problems or promoting new ideas.
- Encourage links between urban groups and those resident in the Dorset National Landscape
- Demonstrate innovation or best practice
- Conserve and enhance the special qualities of the Dorset National Landscape
The Dorset National Landscape – Community Access Fund will support community groups, VCSE organisations, or groups from the public, private or voluntary sectors, within or outside the Dorset National Landscape boundary.
At the application stage, there are conditions that apply – our Terms & Conditions and also our Privacy Policy. If your project is successful, there will also be conditions that you will have to abide by to ensure the Fund is used in the best way for its intended purpose.
We have £15,000 in the Community Access Fund 2026.
A typical grant is likely to be in the region of £2,000 – £4,000 but we are open to considering larger projects where there is a significant proportion of capital expenditure.
The fund can support up to 75% of the costs of most projects if you are a voluntary group or charity. In-kind contributions and volunteer time can be used as match funding.
We do not fund projects that support direct commercial transactions for financial gain.
You can find the Application Form (to be completed alongside the guidance notes), Finance Form and Terms & Conditions below.
Application must be submitted by the deadline – 27th February 2026.
Once submitted, your application will be reviewed by the Stepping into Nature team and we may contact you to ask for additional supporting information. In March a panel of experts will meet to consider all the applications we have received. We will let you know if your application has been successful or not soon after this, no later than the end of March.
Sadly, we are unable to fund works retrospectively. Grants are paid upon project completion upon submission of suitable evidence.
Need more advice?
We are very happy to talk with you about your project ideas, either over the phone or online. To talk or arrange a meeting, please contact Julie Hammon or Kate Townsend
Application forms and guidance
Nature Buddies Community Access Fund Application Form 2026
Nature Buddies Community Access Fund Guidance Notes 2026
Supporters
Other funding options in the Dorset National Landscape
Supporting farmers and land managers
