National River Walks
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Award
Up to £1.35m
Total fund Up to £5.4m
Deadline
Closes in 4 days (27 August 2026)
Where
England
Summary
***NECESSARY ACTION: SEE SUPPORTING INFORMATION TAB FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS*** Defra is looking to award grants via the National River Walks Programme to address the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 commitment to deliver 9 new national river walks, one in each region of England. One river walk has already been delivered in the North West region. We now welcome applications from the remaining 8 regions of England to deliver the next river walks. We are not looking for further applications from the North West. We aim to select 4 river walks to be delivered by 31st March 2028. A further competition to fund the remaining 4 walks will be arranged in the future.
Who can apply
Applicants must be UK-based organisations that are formally constituted. This includes, for example: Local authorities and combined authorities Highways authorities Registered charities and charitable incorporated organisations Community interest companies Companies limited by guarantee Private sector organisations (including SMEs) where not applying for a private gain from the grant. Public sector bodies (other than central government departments or their arm’s length bodies). Partnership applications are welcomed. Where you apply as a partnership, the nominated lead applicant organisation must submit the application. For more information refer to the Invitation to Apply guidance document and annexes in the supporting information section of this advert.
Full details
Successful projects will be awarded up to £100,000 resource funding and up to £1,250,000 capital funding. The proposed work must deliver new or upgraded linear access which should be multi-user (accommodating walking, wheeling, cycling or/and horse riding where possible. The route must run alongside a river, either a main river or ordinary watercourse. The route should run through or close to disadvantaged areas. Rivers which run ‘close to’ a disadvantaged area are defined as rivers which run within 1km of the disadvantaged area. Proposed routes must be wholly within England and fall wholly or primarily within one of the following regions of England: North East England; Yorkshire and the Humber; East Midlands; West Midlands; East of England; London; South East; South West. Routes that extend across regional boundaries are permitted where necessary, however, a single primary region must be identified. This will be the region where the majority of the river walk is located. For more information refer to the Invitation to Apply guidance document and annexes in the supporting information section of this advert.