The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is asking for your views on how to allocate future grants for projects supporting the natural environment and biodiversity. The deadline for the consultation is 26 April.

HLF invests in the protection and conservation of both the built and natural environment – including projects to protect biodiversity. But so far they have had proportionately fewer responses from individuals and organisations interested in biodiversity and the environment.

Unlike many organisations HLF is in the fairly unique position of having extra funding from 2013 – amounting to £300m per year until 2019. All the responses will help to develop a new five year strategic plan to be launched in 2012. Have your say here.

The money that HLF has invested already has helped make a real difference to our heritage and people. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, they invest in every part of our diverse heritage.

HLF has supported more than 30,000 projects allocating £4.5 billion across the UK. During the past 16 years £390 million has been invested in over 3,000 nature conservation projects. Of this around £100 million has helped Wildlife Trusts projects. But what should the priorities be for protecting nature, should they do more?

In addition to helping people to get involved in their heritage, HLF investment has helped create jobs, enhance nature reserves and contributed to reducing the loss of our habitats and species. HLF projects have given local people the chance to develop new skills and train as volunteers, which is both fun and rewarding.