Peatland ACTION - Application form and guidance for applicants
Information on this page relates to NatureScot Peatland ACTION funding.
The NatureScot Peatland ACTION Funding round for September 2025 is now closed. We aim to inform applicants of the outcome of their application by March 2026. Funding Offers will be awarded April 2026.
The next NatureScot Peatland ACTION application deadline is 30 September 2026 for projects with an intended start date after 01 April 2027.
Our funding from Scottish Government primarily supports on-the-ground restoration activities and is open for applications from eligible land managers who have peatlands that would benefit from restoration. There are no geographical restrictions or target areas for Peatland ACTION funding. We are keen to support large-scale multi-year projects for which multi-year funding can be awarded.
The NatureScot Peatland ACTION funding round – deadline 30 April 2025 – is closed and we are currently assessing applications. We aim to inform applicants of the outcome of their application by 31 July 2025. Funding offers will be awarded from 1 August 2025.
Application process (as of 16 May 2025)
Due to the anticipated high level of demand for Peatland ACTION funding and to ensure optimum return we are continuing with a competitive funding round process and have introduced a pre-application step.
Step one: Pre-application Expression of Interest (EoI)
To ensure applicants focus on designing and preparing projects which have the highest chance of securing funding we have introduced a pre-application step. Anyone interested in developing a peatland restoration project and applying for NatureScot Peatland ACTION funding must first submit an Expression of Interest Form for each project. We will undertake a desktop scoping exercise after which we will provide feedback on the next steps.
Step two: Application
For those who have completed step one.
- All applicants must first complete an Expression of Interest form (see step one above) before completing or submitting an NatureScot Peatland ACTION Fund application form.
- All applications must include fully tendered costs including species protection.
- Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) must be used to advertise all contract tender opportunities and must be used for receiving tenders for all restoration works contracts of £50k and over, inclusive of VAT. See our procurement guidance and templates to help you with this.
- The criteria for assessments will remain the same as in 2024/25.
- Applicants/agents will be required to take on responsibility for organising species surveys required in the pre-operational and operation phases of project delivery. Financial support will be available for these costs which will need to be detailed in the application. Further information is available on our protected species agent role and responsibilities web page.
Please read our Funding Privacy Notice which outlines how our use of personal data complies with data protection law.
Peatland ACTION - What else to include with your application form
In addition to your application form (download link at the bottom of this page) you must also complete and submit the following forms or information:
Landlord declaration form
A landlord declaration form is available on our website and must be completed. If you are a tenant of the land covered in your funding application, this form must be completed and signed by both you and your landlord.
Prior notification permitted development rights
Peatland restoration projects fall under Class 20A under The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development and Use Classes) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020) it is important that you read and take action of the following information.
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development and Use Classes) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020, introduces new Class 20A, specifying permitted development rights (PDR) for peatland restoration projects. This means that full planning permission is not required for peatland restoration projects but there is still a planning process (prior notification / prior approval) to go through.
The prior notification / prior approval (PN/PA) process is a two stage process which allows a planning authority to consider whether a proposal requires closer scrutiny before it is approved. This process must be gone through before the restoration works can begin.
Most of the information needed to submit a prior notification will be provided as part of the development of a Peatland Action project. Ideally you should submit your Peatland Action application once you have submitted your prior notification.
More information is available in the Scottish Government Planning Circular (Advice and Guidance).
Peatland restoration and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 or ‘CDM (2015)’ apply to all of our restoration work.
Peatland ACTION takes health and safety very seriously. Striving for programme-wide compliance with the CDM (2015) regulations helps to ensure the safe working of all involved.
If you are applying for Peatland ACTION funding to restore a bog, you must familiarise yourself with the CDM (2015) Regulations and their relevance to peatland restoration.
All the information you need can be found on our Peatland restoration and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Information for Applicants web page.
Peatland ACTION - Peat depth and peat condition survey
Peat depth and peatland condition data allows us to measure the amount of stored peat and estimate the carbon storage and greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland.
A peat depth and peatland condition survey is needed before restoration work starts.
All the information you need on this is available on the peat depth and peat condition survey guidance web page.
Peatland ACTION - Spatial data and information on restoration footprint
For us to assess your proposed project you must submit spatial data using our templates. This information helps us to assess restoration plans at the start of a project. For successful projects this information is used by contractors to carry out the work; reporting final project outcomes and effectiveness of restoration activities.
The set of spatial data templates and further guidance are available to download on our website.
Peatland ACTION Final report
Once your project is completed you will need to submit a final report (template and guidance).
Acknowledging our funding
Full details of what you must do to acknowledge our funding for your project(s) are listed on our how to acknowledge support for your project web page.
Further information to help you with your Peatland ACTION application
Peatland ACTION - Application Process - A quick guide
Step one: Pre-application Expression of Interest (EoI)
To ensure applicants focus on designing and preparing projects which have the highest chance of securing funding we have introduced a pre-application step. Anyone interested in developing a peatland restoration project and applying for NatureScot Peatland ACTION funding must first submit an Expression of Interest Form for each project. We will undertake a desktop scoping exercise after which we will provide feedback on the next steps.
Our Project Officers will assist you with completing your EoI.
Step two: Application (for those who have completed step one)
All applicants must first complete an Expression of Interest form (step one) before submitting an application form.
Our Project Officers will support you to develop your project, help you understand the Peatland Action Fund and assist you with completing your application and supporting information.
Everything you need to know about the application process is available in our quick guide.
Note: If your project is located within either of Scotland’s National Parks, you should contact the relevant national park Peatland Action team to discuss your proposals:
- Cairngorms National Park: [email protected]
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park: [email protected]
Peatland ACTION - Applying for funding information for applicants
You must get in touch with us as early as possible before you submit your Application. We’ll arrange for one of our Project Officers to support you to develop your project and advise on specific application requirements.
Everything you need to know about applying for Peatland ACTION funding is available in our further information for applicants guide.
If you have not already done so, please email [email protected] and we’ll arrange for one of the team of Project Officers to get in touch with you.
Peatland ACTION - FAQs
Our frequently asked questions.
Peatland ACTION - Outcomes and priorities for action
There are no geographical restrictions or target areas for Peatland Action funding. Before applying applicants should however, check whether their proposed restoration activities meets the fund's outcomes and priorities for action requirements.
Peatland ACTION - Eligibility criteria
There are no geographical restrictions or target areas for Peatland Action funding. Before applying applicants should however, check whether their proposed restoration activities meets the fund's eligibility requirements.
Peatland ACTION - Spatial data
The spatial data associated with your restoration project is important to Peatland ACTION so that we can assess restoration plans at the start of a project and report the outcomes at the end. They are also used for monitoring the effectiveness of restoration activities.
To use these data effectively, we need them to be submitted in a consistent format. To achieve this, we have created a set of spatial data templates (geopackage and file geodatabases) along with project files for popular GIS software - QGIS (free), and ArcGIS Pro (proprietary).
The spatial data templates are available to download on our website.
Peatland ACTION - Restoration footprint guidance
The restoration footprint is used to calculate the area (in hectares) included within the project. These areas are used by Peatland Action to report to the Scottish Government on the total area of peatlands “put on the road to recovery” in a financial year. It is therefore very important that all applicants are therefore providing this boundary consistently so we can be confident in our evidence.
All the information you need is available to download on the peatland restoration footprint web page.
NatureScot's Guidance for applicants - Financial information and records
All the information you need is on the NatureScot's Financial information and records - guidance for funding applicants web page
NatureScot's Standard Terms and Conditions of Funding
All the information you need is on the NatureScot's terms and conditions of Grant offered web page.
Peatland ACTION - How to acknowledge support for your project
One of the Conditions of receiving funding from us is that you acknowledge our funding of your project during your Contract Period. This will be outlined in your Funding Offer. We may ask you to tell us how you will acknowledge our funding in your application.
Full details of what you must do are listed on our how to acknowledge support for your project web page.
Peatland Code (led by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme)
The Peatland Code is part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) UK Peatland Programme. It is a voluntary certification standard for UK peatland projects wishing to market the climate benefits of peatland restoration and provides assurances to voluntary carbon market buyers that the climate benefits being sold are real, quantifiable, additional and permanent.
Much of the data gathered for a Peatland ACTION project can be used to inform a Peatland Code application. Processes can run in tandem.
More information including a video which provides an introduction to the code and guidance documents can be found on the IUCN’s website.
Carbon Contracts Pilot
In order to support greater levels of peatland restoration and try to leverage additional funding sources and reduce the risks involved in committing capital to restoration projects, in 2025 we are piloting a new funding mechanism of Carbon Contracts.
