Defra has confirmed its contribution to the funding of National Landscapes for 2025-26.
The funding available for the cost of the teams remains the same as for this year at £7.8 million. This is shared between the 34 National Landscapes in England. This means an average contribution to each landscape is £230,000, which is challenging when costs are increasing.
This is a fraction of what is needed for teams who are charged with the stewardship of these nationally significant assets, where government has high expectations on them to be the backbone of nature recovery, to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and to provide recreation opportunities for millions of people every year.
However, Defra is showing signs of backing these teams to deliver on its specific agenda. They have confirmed an additional £7.8 million to be spent on work which can support delivery of nature recovery and activities to help teams secure future new funding streams. In addition, there is funding for both National Landscapes and National Parks in the shape of £30 million for Farming in Protected Landscapes and £6.8 million to improve access to these landscapes.
John Watkins, National Landscapes Association Chief Executive said:
“The National Landscapes Association welcomes government’s confidence in National Landscapes to deliver, but decades of flatline settlements coupled with an ever more urgent need to tackle the climate, nature and wellbeing crises mean National Landscapes teams – often in single figures – have to do more with less.
This is a one year settlement. We need government to work closely with us to develop a more robust and sustainable approach to funding all the nation’s National Landscapes and National Parks.”
National Landscapes are the largest of the protected landscapes family, covering 14% of the land area of England and are staffed small teams working with communities, farmers and landowners to protect and restore the landscape, guided by a democratically derived Management Plan which recognises the unique features of the area.
As well as delivering projects on the ground, they play a vital role in convening the many sectors and organisations who impact on these landscapes to align them as effectively as possible to conserve and enhance their natural beauty for the nation.