A crowdfunding platform has been created by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Spacehive, to help local people raise money for projects supporting nature recovery and community participation for the environment. 

Alongside public donations, businesses and partner organisations can also contribute to help the projects succeed, encouraging collaboration and investment in locally driven environmental initiatives. What’s more, selected projects may receive up to 50% or £6,000 towards their fundraising target from the Mayor’s Community Nature Fund. 

two young people talking to each other while tending to plants

Mayor's Community Nature Fund

The Mayor's Community Nature Fund supports community-led projects that help restore nature, improve biodiversity and strengthen local green spaces across the West of England. The fund provides grants of up to £6,000 for voluntary and community organisations delivering practical nature recovery projects, and is designed to support “small but mighty” community initiatives that reimagine and bring public green spaces to life.

Project outcomes could include:

  • Habitat improvement
  • Tree planting
  • Biodiversity enhancement
  • Community growing
  • Wildlife-friendly land management
  • Other activities that create lasting environmental benefits and stronger community networks

Who can apply?

Get started on Spacehive

These organisations are eligible to apply for funding:

  • Public bodies (eg. parish councils, schools supporting their wider community)
  • Registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs)
  • Community Interest Companies (CICs)
  • Constituted or unincorporated community groups

The following are not eligible to apply for funding:

  • Private, profit-making businesses
  • Social enterprises
  • Unitary authorities
  • Schools
  • Inclusive faith and religious groups
  • Housing associations
  • Projects led by individuals
  • Projects delivered or run by organisations based outside of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council areas

How it works

Start your project

Head to spacehive.com/create to get started. You’ll need to register for an account and share your project idea.

The Spacehive platform will match you to the Mayoral Combined Authority funds available, based on your project location. Here you will need to answer some questions regarding your project.

Before you can start crowdfunding, your project is checked to ensure the necessary permissions and governance are in place. You will need to supply quotes for the main cost items in your project budget too. See the help centre here for verification guidance. Remember to add any pre-campaign funds to demonstrate existing support to the project, see the help centre here for guidance.

Once your crowdfunding campaign is launched on the Spacehive platform, start raising funds to demonstrate local support. A typical crowdfunding campaign runs for 6-12 weeks. Spacehive offers guidance here to help you achieve your crowdfunding target. If you are successful in receiving funding from the Mayor's Community Nature Fund, it will be added to your crowdfunding campaign.

Projects must hit their crowdfunding target to receive a Mayor's Community Nature Fund donation. Once you hit your crowdfunding target, you’ll receive your funds within a few weeks and you can start delivering your project.

Once crowdfunding is complete, deliver your project within nine months and complete an impact report on Spacehive. This is mandatory and shares your success with backers and the Mayoral Combined Authority.