Levy ‘gives back to nature’

Global hospitality partner, Levy, has launched the ‘Living System Fund’, a new not-for-profit funding initiative supporting ecological projects that give back to nature, engage communities and create social impact.

Levy is a founding partner of the Living System Fund, which it has developed with not-for-profit RegenFutureCo CIC – a pioneering consultancy dedicated to advancing circular and regenerative practices.

Levy is giving £500,000 to the fund in 2026 to benefit six projects, alongside the double award winning Biohub, in North Yorkshire, which inspired the fund’s creation.

The projects have been chosen for their commitment to nature restoration and social impact, to represent a diverse range of landscapes, and because of their relevance to Levy’s supply chain as a leading hospitality partner.

RegenFutureCo is now inviting additional contributions from further partners so that the benefits of these and potential future, Living System Fund projects, can be amplified.

Levy, together with RegenFutureCo and the 2026 projects, will track and report progress on each project, with storytelling to inspire, educate and engage.

Spanning coastal, moorland, highland and urban environments, the projects for 2026 (below in alphabetical order) are:

1. Allotment Soup, Isle of Walney, Barrow In Furness: Establishment of a new community orchard at ‘Allotment Soup’: 1.6 acres of former scrub land in one of Britain’s most economically and culturally challenged areas and which has been transformed by volunteers, artists and ecologists into a community growing and nature restoration space.

2. GrubsUp! North York Moors, National Parks Partnership: Creation of connected habitats for pollinators and other invertebrates across the North York Moors, expanding the current, highly successful network.

3. London Regenerative Farm Hub, Greenwich, London: Supporting the next phase of ecological regeneration at one of Europe’s largest city farms, in Greenwich. The project will help transform this unique 89-acre site into a leading showcase for agro-ecological farming in London.

4. Project Seagrass, Laugharne, Wales: Development of a nursery for seagrass, one of nature’s ‘superheroes’. Seagrass plays crucial role in carbon sequestration and storage and Project Seagrass, led by three internationally recognised marine scientists, has a shared vision of a world in which seagrass meadows are thriving, abundant and well managed for people and planet.

5. Restoring Highland Rivers, Kyle of Sutherland, Scottish Highlands: Ecological work supporting the health of two rivers in the Scottish Highlands. Riverwoods: Catchment Restoration is a partnership project aiming to restore river ecosystems across two catchments: the Cromarty Firth and the Kyle of Sutherland, spanning 3,600km2. Funding will enable the planting and protection of 21,500 native trees and environmental education programme for secondary school children at Alladale Wilderness Reserve, helping drive community engagement, understanding and action.

6. River Friendly Farming, Fordhall Farm Community Land Initiative, Shropshire: Bespoke hydrology and ecosystems projects at this community-owned farm to support ‘river-friendly farming’. The works, including restoration of the farm’s oldest spring-fed pond, transplanting native marsh plants and planting apple trees along water courses, will attract native species, and provide places for wildlife and people to enjoy the benefits of a healthy water ecosystem and the wildlife it hosts.

The Living System Fund’s 2026 projects join the Biohub ‘Living Lab’ in North Yorkshire, a ‘testbed’ project for agricultural regeneration which inspired the fund’s development. The Biohub was founded by leading ecosystems expert, Dr Vincent Walsh, and the ongoing transformation of a traditional upland’s sheep farm into a complex, thriving ecosystem saw it win two ecological awards in 2025. Levy will continue to co-sponsor the Biohub, as it has done since 2022 (with Yorkshire Water and Quorn Pro).

Over 500 Levy staff and partners attended practical ‘on farm’ workshops in 2024 and 2025 to learn about the power of regenerative landscape design, its role in Levy’s supply chain and how this feeds into delivering market-leading hospitality that supports people and planet.

Jon Davies, CEO of Levy, said: “We are already witnessing the extraordinary regenerative impact at the award‑winning Biohub – proof of Dr Vincent’s visionary ecological design brought to life. With the Living System Fund, we’re stepping up again. These diverse, nature‑based projects represent far more than good intentions; they show our willingness to invest, to take responsibility, and to accelerate real change for both people and planet.

“I’m genuinely excited to see the tangible restoration, the community benefits, and the social impact these projects will deliver. And I hope this inaugural cohort becomes a powerful learning community – one that shares knowledge, grows together, and inspires even bolder action.That’s why we’re thrilled that RegenFutureCo is inviting more partners to join and strengthen the fund.”

Dr Vincent Walsh, Managing Director, RegenFutureCo and founder of the Biohub, said: “We have developed the Living System Fund to address the root causes of environmental degradation, to nurture biodiversity and strengthen community resilience.

“It is more important than ever to invest in living systems, in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. RegenFutureCo believes that this holistic approach is necessary to make a tangible difference and avoid sustainability becoming a tick-box exercise.Ultimately, we want to ensure a thriving planet for generations to come, empowering communities to coexist harmoniously with nature.”