Funding available to help the River Chess thrive…

Landowners, land managers and farmers in the River Chess catchment are being invited to turn their environmental ambitions into a reality through the River Chess Smarter Water Catchments Landowner and Farming Grants Scheme. A total of £245,000 is available in 2026 for projects that improve water quality, manage flows, support nature recovery and bring people together. There is no fixed cap for individual awards, and both capital and revenue costs can be supported, however applicants submitting proposals for large sums of money will be require to demonstrate robustly how the proposal will benefit the four Smarter Water Catchment themes in the River Chess Catchment Plan.

What could the grant cover?

• Reducing sediment, nutrient and pesticide run-off, while improving soil health.
• Natural flood management, including leaky dams, storage areas and floodplain reconnection.
• Riverbank fencing, alternative livestock drinking points and chalk stream habitat restoration.
• Creating or restoring ponds, wetlands, hedgerows, species-rich grassland and wildlife corridors.
• Community projects focused on access, monitoring, training and long-term stewardship.

The closed call opens in the week commencing 12 October and applications close on 31 December. The assessment panel is scheduled to meet in the week commencing 18 January, with award notifications expected in the week commencing 25 January. Multi-year proposals are welcome, with funded work to be completed by February 2030.

Match funding is not required, although contributions from other schemes, partners or in-kind support are encouraged. Payments are normally made retrospectively once work is complete and approved invoices have been supplied.

To discuss an idea, contact stephhorn@chilterns.org.uk

Download the application guidance and forms here: Chess SWC Landowner and Farming Grants | Chilterns Chalk Stream Project