The UK government has announced a £30 million “Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund” aimed at restoring and creating habitats across England’s protected landscapes between 2026 and 2029.
Key points from the announcement:
- The fund will support habitat restoration in England’s National Parks, National Landscapes, and the Broads.
- Projects are intended to help threatened species including hedgehogs, hazel dormice, water voles, curlews, and turtle doves.
- Funding is ring-fenced at £10 million per year over three years.
- 36 of England’s 44 protected landscapes will participate in the first year.
- The programme is part of the government’s broader “Wild Again: Restoring England’s Wildlife” initiative, which aims to halt species decline by 2030 and contribute toward protecting 30% of land for nature.
Example projects already highlighted include peatland restoration and native woodland creation in the Peak District National Park, including work at Gun Moor to restore wet heath and re-wet degraded peat.
The announcement also links the new fund to:
- the UK Environment Act target of restoring over 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042,
- Local Nature Recovery Strategies,
- and existing Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) infrastructure.
Officials and conservation groups including The Wildlife Trusts and the Nature Friendly Farming Network welcomed the funding, while noting that wider long-term action on biodiversity loss and climate pressures remains necessary.
Joan Edwards, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, said: ‘‘Generations have been inspired by the wonderful wild animals and plants they find in England’s National Parks and Landscapes. However, these special connections with nature have been fraying, as climate change, land use pressures and pollution take their toll, and nature declines across the country.
“Today’s announcement of £30 million of new funding to help wildlife recover in protected landscapes is much needed if we are to reverse this loss and empower people to restore more habitats in cherished National Parks and Landscapes. With nature underpinning our economy, health and future resilience as a nation, there is still lots to do if we are to bring flourishing wildlife and habitats back and achieve vital Environment Act targets. This new funding is step towards delivering on that ambition.’’
Martin Lines, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), said: “This funding is a positive recognition that farmers are essential partners in protecting and restoring the habitats that make our protected landscapes so special. Through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) scheme, farming businesses have already shown how productive farming and nature recovery can go hand in hand - creating and caring for habitats that support rare wildlife, strengthen landscapes and benefit local communities.”
“We warmly welcome this announcement, which reinforces the importance of farmers as key partners in restoring and protecting our most treasured landscapes. When farmers are trusted and supported to lead, nature can recover at scale.” Photo by Arild Vågen, Wikimedia commons.
