The Thames Environment Fund supports projects that deliver measurable environmental improvements to the tidal Thames, contributing to the ambitions of the Thames Vision 2050 – including improved water and air quality, enhanced biodiversity, climate resilience, and reduced emissions.

The Tidal Tributaries Stewardship Fund forms part of the wider programme, providing targeted support to organisations delivering habitat management within tributaries and creeks of the tidal Thames.

Through this fund, we aim to strengthen organisational capacity in habitat restoration, management planning, and volunteer development. Grants of up to £25,000 are available, with funding intended to support capacity building activities that promote the long-term stewardship of these valuable environments.
General conditions for applications:
  • Funding will only support organisations undertaking habitat management within tributaries and creeks of the tidal Thames.
  • Recipients must agree to share monitoring data, learning, tools and good practice with the PLA upon request, to support wider knowledge exchange across the tidal Thames network.
  • Successful organisations must acknowledge PLA funding support in all publicity, communications and publications relating to the funded activity, including use of the PLA logo where required.
  • The award of PLA funding does not remove the requirement for the organisation to secure any necessary permissions, licences or consents (including PLA consents where applicable) for any future habitat works delivered as a result of this capacity building.
  • Where funded organisations coordinate litter removal as part of their stewardship activity, they must record clean-up activity and associated data via the PLA Cleaning the Thames website.

Bids should demonstrate:
  • Proposals must set out clear organisational development objectives, including measurable milestones and proportionate monitoring to demonstrate how capacity will be strengthened. Activities should have defined start and end dates, commencing after 1 January 2027.
  • Applicants must demonstrate how increased organisational capacity will lead to improved ecological condition, more effective habitat management, or enhanced long-term stewardship within the tidal Thames tributaries and creeks.
  • Where funding supports habitat planning, restoration design, volunteer development or technical training, applicants must outline how learning and skills will be embedded within the organisation beyond the grant period.
  • Describe any partners involved and their roles
  • Other sources of financial support that have been sought and/or obtained.
  • Appropriate risk assessment for activities.

Key date and timelines
The key dates for the Tidal Tributaries Stewardship Fund are as follows:
  • Applications will open on Tuesday 31 March, 9am.
  • The deadline for applications is Tuesday 30th June, 5pm.
  • We intend to notify applicants the outcome of applications in September 2026.
Please ensure your application is complete before submission, as changes cannot be made afterwards.
We will not consider applications outside of the funding round listed above.
We may close the application portal from time to time to allow for system improvements.
Due to the competitive nature of the programme, decisions are final and there is no formal appeals process.
About the Fund:

We welcome applications from organisations of all sizes. If you are a smaller organisation and require clarification on any requirements, please contact us for guidance.

You are welcome to submit questions about your application to us at envconsultation@pla.co.uk. The average response time is two working days.
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