The NatureScot is seeking applications for its Better Places Green Recovery Fund to help communities and destinations develop plans for pro-active visitor management in 'hot spot' locations to enjoy nature.

The fund offers financial support to undertake the preliminary stages of visitor management planning, including scoping of the issues and interests. The fund will also support the further development or review of any existing plans, and design work for infrastructure solutions and measures.

The fund will prioritise areas in Scotland which suffer from excessive visitor management pressures, including capacity issues, inadequate or no infrastructure and services, remote locations, erosion and land-based impacts, and anti-social behaviour.

The fund aims to:

• Test how the fund better support capacity building and skills development for visitor management planning.
• Support a visitor management pathway leading to further action and resources, such as infrastructure development (currently funded through the Visit Scotland Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund).
• Share good practice, and develop useful advice and guidance on visitor management approaches used to tackle common issues, for example, case studies, designs and management measures.

Funding Information

The Better Places Fund has an initial budget of £200,000.

• The maximum funding will award to a project is £20,000
• The minimum funding will award to a project is £5,000

Eligibility Criteria

• Applications are invited from constituted organisations, including registered charities, trusts and community groups. Where applications are received from partnerships or organisations working collaboratively, a lead applicant must be identified.
• Applications must be for activity or project delivery in Scotland.
• Applications from the following groups will not be eligible.
  • Local authorities and other public sector organisations
  • Academic institutes
  • Private individuals and companies (only eligible where there is significant public benefit)

For more information, visit NatureScot.