Wildlife Wise announces new grant project support

11/02/25

A new small grant scheme has been announced by Wildlife Wise, supporting projects that aim to prevent recreational disturbance and damage to Suffolk's coast and its important wildlife and habitats.

Sam Kench, Wildlife Wise Delivery Manager said:

“The Suffolk Coast is one of the most important places in Europe for wildlife; particularly wildfowl and wading birds that live, nest, and breed in our coastal habitats through the seasons.

“Therefore, this Wildlife Wise grant fund is all about working with interested organisations to deliver new projects that will practically make a difference to prevent disturbance across the Suffolk Coast’s wildlife sites”.

Wildlife Wise is a partnership project between Babergh District Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, East Suffolk Council and Ipswich Borough Council.

It has grants of up to £5,000 available that will be awarded to projects supporting priorities within the Suffolk Coast Recreational Disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy.

Organisations can also use Wildlife Wise grants as match funding for a larger project.

The Wildlife Wise fund will run throughout 2025 with the first round now open. Applications are requested by Friday 21 February and awards will be made by Friday 14 March.

The types of site-based projects might include implementing new signage, rerouting paths or making car parking improvements, creating new dogs off lead areas, or small areas of fencing to enable ground nesting birds to breed without disturbance and sensitive wildlife habitats to flourish without trampling, whilst still preserving access to the coast.

Further guidance for grant applicants and an application form can be found on the Wildlife Wise website.