The Woodspring Trust is no longer considering applications for funds.
Previously, applications were invited from individuals of any age, anywhere in the world, for a project designed to have a substantial, lasting, positive impact on biodiversity and the environment.
Eligible projects were selected on the basis of the following criteria:
- Their cost, balanced against their intended benefit to nature conservation, and apparent likelihood of achieving this benefit
- The expected extent of their likely benefit (e.g. geographic area, number of species or ecosystems, degree to which these are threatened, duration)
Below is a list of answers to common questions.
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What types of project were considered?
Many of the funded projects had a field ecology focus, but the Woodspring Trust would consider any eligible project, judging it solely in terms of the criteria. For example, your project could have a basis in engineering, communications, be quite theoretical or entirely practical. However, it was important to present your application in a way that the lay person could understand and assess what was being proposed.
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Who was eligible?
Applications were invited from individuals of any age, anywhere in the world, for a project likely to have a substantial, lasting, positive impact on biodiversity and the environment.
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What is the Woodspring Trust award?
The Woodspring Trust award provides the successful project with:
- international recognition of its special, high potential to achieve outstanding nature conservation outcomes
- financial support to achieve these outcomes
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Who was it for?
The Woodspring Trust award was designed for any project, in any field, in any country, with high potential to achieve outstanding nature conservation outcomes.
The successful project was the one considered most likely to achieve the greatest conservation outcome for the funding required. It would typically:
- be pragmatic with a high chance of success
- achieve positive impacts on multiple species or even ecosystems
- achieve positive impacts which have a good chance of progressing further well beyond the end of the funding period
- involve people living in the area where the project is focused
- be run by someone with experience and previous success in the type of project proposed
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If there were only around two awards every year, was it really worth applying?
The funding was quite substantial.
The application process was designed so that you initially only needed to submit a short outline of your project. So, minimal effort was required unless you were subsequently invited to fill out the full application form, which would indicate that you had a reasonable chance of success.
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When was the award given?
The Woodspring Trust award was made at a maximum of twice a year. The closing dates for applications were 31st May and 30th November each year.