Lowland Peat Water Implementation Grant
The implementation grant scheme is designed to support projects in taking a collaborative and strategic approach to water management within lowland peatland catchments. It aims to deliver the infrastructure and water management controls needed to facilitate a positive change in water management, with a primary focus on the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from lowland peat whilst enabling wider benefits such as biodiversity improvements, flood and drought mitigation and sustainable land use.
- Opening date: (Midnight)
- Closing date: (Midnight)
Contents
Summary
The implementation grant scheme will fund projects to install infrastructure and water control measures to enable safe raising of water tables in lowland peat soils. Your project must install infrastructure or other measures that promote a change in water management which allows for more sustainable land management activities at higher water tables within lowland peat soils. Each project must include plans for the long-term maintenance of these outcomes.
To apply for an implementation grant you must show the following:
the area of peat that your project will seek to raise water tables.
evidence on both the extent and depth of peat on land where raised water tables are being facilitated through the proposed project
what would optimum water table levels and/or watercourse levels be for the site and what realistically can be achieved.
what constraints exist within the site (and outside of the site at different scales; field, local area, water management area) linked with achieving your water table change and how you have overcome them.
what infrastructure and management arrangements you intend to put in place to achieve your water table change and how these interventions will be delivered and managed long term.
what monitoring will be used to ensure the changes implemented continue to be retained
what mitigation will be required, this could include dealing with potential impacts on neighbours, potential unintended consequences, environmental factors or different management for the area being re-wetted.
To successfully raise water tables a collaborative-approach will be required, with all interested parties working together. You must detail the stakeholders, including land managers whose land is within your project area, you intend to collaborate with to successfully deliver your plan. You must demonstrate the stakeholder support your project has in your application.
Eligibility
Your project is eligible provided:
it is focused on delivering an implementation plan for an area of lowland peat soils that has been drained and have water tables which are lower than optimum for the reduction of carbon emissions within England
there is not a legal requirement to carry out the proposed activity
the proposed activity is not receiving, or will be receiving, funding from other sources which would be considered duplicate funding
you are an eligible organisation
To be an eligible organisation you must be one of the following:
charities or not for profit organisations
public bodies (including local authorities and internal drainage boards)
land managers
businesses or commercial enterprises
A Implementation grant can only be issued to a single legal entity. We welcome applications from a single organisation who is coordinating work with other interested parties. You must prove that you are eligible when you apply. The Environment Agency, Defra, Natural England and Forestry Commission are not eligible to apply but are eligible to be collaborators within a project.
Objectives
The purpose of the implementation grant scheme is to provide investment that will ultimately:
facilitate rewetting lowland peat, by installing infrastructure and other control measures to enable the safe and sustainable raising of water tables in lowland peat soils
create, or build on existing, effective local collaborations with lowland peat stakeholders
have a primary focus on the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from lowland peat
enable wider benefits e.g. biodiversity, flood and drought mitigation and sustainable land use
contribute to the delivery of a mosaic of more sustainable land uses at landscape scale, including through farming conventional crops at higher water tables, paludiculture and/or peatland/wetland habitat restoration
Dates
Grants will be awarded in December 2026 and must complete by March 2030.
How to apply
To apply, request an application pack from peatwatergrants@environment-agency.gov.uk
complete the implementation application form and submit it via email with supporting information to peatwatergrants@environment-agency.gov.uk by 23.59 on 18 September 2026.
It is important that you provide all the information asked for in the application form, including any mandated supporting documents and a site map in an accessible format. Incomplete applications will be rejected.
Your application form, including the mandated supporting documents, will be the single source of information used to score and rank your application. No other information nor documents submitted after the application deadline will be considered.
Your application must be signed by an individual with the appropriate authority to act on behalf of your organisation.
Supporting information
For a more detailed overview of the fund please see:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-lowland-peat-water-implementation-grant