The Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme (NCPGS) aims to restore 35,000 hectares of degraded peatland. Administered by Natural England, it provides funding for both planning and preparation (Discovery Grants) and on-the-ground restoration works (Restoration Grants). ICF and partners were commissioned to evaluate its process, impact, and value for money. This evaluation aims to understand the scheme’s successes and areas for improvement, producing findings to inform the transition to future funding including the government’s Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs). The evaluation also assesses the wider context of peatland restoration, including private funding, sector capacity, and landowner attitudes. Data were available to assess the scheme’s performance from its outset until March 2024. One of the recommendations of this report is that a final impact evaluation should be conducted upon the scheme’s conclusion.
A supporting document providing Natural England’s commentary on the recommendations proposed by ICF in this report is available, along with six case studies looking at some NCPGS projects in greater detail.