A major rewilding project in west Dorset is one of seven schemes across the country to be awarded up to £15,000 in funding.

New landowner-led charity West Dorset Wilding has received the money from charity Rewilding Britain's Rewilding Innovation Fund, for work that has a strong community element.

West Dorset Wilding will use its award to develop rewilding aims and increase public understanding of efforts to restore nature to the point it can look after itself, along with the wider benefits for the environment and wellbeing that can deliver.

Centred around Mapperton House, just outside Beaminster, the project is handing hundreds of acres back to nature, all in an effort to ‘rewild’ the land, create space for wildlife and store carbon. 

Home to Luke and Julie Montagu, Viscount and Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, the 1,900 acre estate poses its own set of challenges. 

Waning agricultural revenues, a repair bill that regularly runs to six figures, and a global pandemic have meant the couple have had to constantly look for new ways to generate income. 

In October the project was featured in BBC One documentary To the Manor Farm, part of the We Are England series. 

The rewilding projects across the country are engaging local communities or working to improve health and wellbeing have been awarded up to £15,000 each.

The seven nature restoration schemes across Britain have each received funding from charity Rewilding Britain's Rewilding Innovation Fund, for work that has a strong community element or focuses on boosting people's health and wellbeing.

It is the first official round of awards from the fund, set up to provide financial backing for locally-led land and marine rewilding projects, following a pilot earlier in the year.

Sara King, Rewilding Britain's rewilding manager, said: "We're delighted to be able to use this round of funding to highlight the importance of rewilding projects that have a strong base and support in the local community and also recognise the tangible benefits rewilding can have on people's health and wellbeing.

"There is a wealth of research that illustrates how strengthening connections with nature and spending time in wild places can dramatically improve our mental and physical health, and also the wellbeing of our communities, and these projects are helping to do just that."

The next opportunity to apply for the fund, which is funded by Evolution Education Trust, Charles Langdale, The Vintry and Dormywood Trust, will be in early spring 2023, Rewilding Britain said.