“LINC: Cornwall’s Natural Capital Exchange is an exciting initiative supporting investment-ready natural capital projects in Cornwall to engage with funders. We enable landowners and farmers to develop and bring unique site-based projects to the marketplace where delivery of nature recovery can be rewarded. Developers and businesses keen to meet their socially and environmentally responsible targets can support projects that help create a greener future whilst investing in a slice of heaven – Cornwall’s rich and diverse natural environment.

Funders can choose from a range of bold and innovative projects; from large scale tree planting to butterfly-laden wildflower meadows; from seagrass beds to new wildlife habitats in urban areas. These nature-based solutions all contribute to mitigating and adapting to climate change, through natural flood management and nature recovery. By protecting and replenishing the natural environment they will help meet the ambitious target in our pioneering Environmental Growth Strategy and emerging Local Nature Recovery Strategy: whereby 30% of our land, rivers and sea will be well managed for nature by 2030.”

Mark Hanmore, Cornwall LINC Project Manager – mark.hanmore@cornwall.gov.uk

Cornwall have created a film about their LINC journey too: Introducing LINC (Local Investment in Nature Cornwall).

 

“The WMCA will work with regional stakeholders to develop a pipeline of projects that have the scale and impact needed to attract significant levels of investment and help deliver the priorities set out in the West Midlands Natural Environment Plan. The WMCA is the only major urban area to be chosen for DEFRA’s two-year Local Investment in Natural Capital (LINC) programme as greater environmental responsibilities are set to be transferred from Whitehall to the region as part of the recently announced Deeper Devolution Deal.

Importantly, the potential investment secured as part of the programme will also enable the WMCA to deliver more nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, the development of a local nature recovery strategy, and improvements to air quality.”

Tristan Semple, West Midlands Combined Authority Project Manager – tristan.semple@WMCA.org.uk

Alex Hume, Associate Director, Finance Earth – alex@finance.earth

You can find more information on the WMCA LINC page.  WMCA share their LINC story here.

In October 2024, West Midlands Combined Authority hosted a Natural Environment Summit.  The event welcomed key speakers such as Nature Minister Mary Creagh, Mayor of WMCA Richard Parker and DEFRA Green Finance Deputy Director Helen Edmundson and LINC was a key theme throughout the day. A summary film of the event can be viewed here

An online Basecamp forum has been established by West Midlands Combined Authority, to bring together the various project owners for development of their project pipeline and to build networks. Get in touch for access.

Ullswater Catchment Management CIC has launched its project pipeline with a full web update, rebrand and great video on their front page showcasing the work they do with farmers and hope to keep doing with private investment: https://ucmcic.com/

For more information please contact lucy.lawrence-bell@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Using the LINC funding allocated to the North East Combined Authority (North East CA), the Carbon and Nature Marketplace for the North East | Net Zero North East England was launched in June 2025 by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness. Our platform is the first Combined Authority-led platform of its kind, connecting private buyers and funders to high integrity nature recovery and decarbonisation projects in our region. The North East CA vets projects prior to listing, and only lists projects that are realistic, have completed their feasibility studies, and are deliverable within their budgets. The Marketplace is free to use for buyers and sellers, and it welcomes projects seeking funding, verified carbon credit projects, and projects selling Biodiversity Net Gain offsets.

For further information please contact Karen.daglish@northeast-ca.gov.uk or dan.wales.hart@northeast-ca.gov.uk

“York and North Yorkshire have an ambition to become England’s first carbon negative region by 2040. York and North Yorkshire’s Routemap to Carbon Negative sets out the region’s ambitious plans, organised around 3 strategic pillars, Energy System, Circular Economy and Natural Capital.

Our region is rich in natural capital, thanks to our world-renowned landscapes, rivers, coastline and urban green spaces. The Local Investment in Natural Capital Programme (LINC) will help us to understand how we can attract investment into natural capital that can restore and sustain the natural environment, whilst unlocking significant economic value. Research shows that with strong private and public sector partnerships and the right investment, York and North Yorkshire’s natural capital economy could grow by 31% before 2050, which would translate into £946m GVA.

LINC will support us to increase green finance for nature and marine-based solutions such as tree planting, and peatland restoration, and support farmers to access new private sector investments that increase resilience in the landscapes they manage. Our communities and businesses can benefit too, through improved access, supported well-being, increased resilience to flooding, a better quality of crops, and removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere.

We’ll be working together and with our key stakeholders with an ambition to deliver:

• A Land Use Assessment and Natural Capital Investment Plan (NCIP)

• A pipeline of investible natural capital projects and piloting projects that test mechanisms for private investment
• Business cases for a self-sustaining Accelerator Programme and a local investment vehicle to reduce reliance on public funding.”

The Combined Authority are working with some very inspiring projects, looking for long term funding, including:

Long Preston floodplain | YDMT​

Seaweed & The Environment – SeaGrown

Ann Stewart, Natural Capital Programme Manager – ann.stewart@northyorks.gov.uk