Natural England

6 June 2008

The future of some of England’s most iconic landscapes and wildlife received a £45 million boost from Natural England on World Environment Day yesterday (Thursday 5 June) as it announced a three year funding commitment to some of its partners.

Natural England’s partners include both leading voluntary conservation organisations and world-famous centres of expertise. The success of species such as the large blue butterfly, iconic landscapes like the Cotswolds, and places for people to get out and enjoy the countryside such as South Downs Way are all delivered by Natural England’s partners¹.

Announcing the funding, Dr Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: “You cannot reverse the fortune of a rare plant like lady’s slipper orchid overnight – it requires long-term commitment. We wanted to give our biodiversity partnerships financial security and this three year deal will make a huge difference to those delivering crucial work at a national and local level.

“Up and down the country local biodiversity coordinators are engaged in some impressive projects that range from improving the wildlife in abandoned china clay workings in Cornwall to restoring neutral grasslands on the Durham coalfield. Working together is the key to success. By pooling our resources and supporting our partners, we can achieve so much more,” concluded Helen Phillips.

Natural England funding has been guaranteed for:

• All 13 National Trails in England, operated by 50 separate local authorities, which include the Pennine Way, the Thames Path and the North Downs Way
• All 36 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnerships which cover over two million hectares of the country ’s finest landscapes including the Surrey Hills, the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills. They often provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and access, and in many cases overlap with areas of wildlife habitat.
• 49 Local Biodiversity Action Plan partnerships
• Five National Biodiversity Delivery Partners: Zoological Society of London; Butterfly Conservation; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Plantlife; and the RSPB.

The announcement has been welcomed by both national and local partners:

Dr Martin Warren, Chief Executive of Butterfly Conservation said: “We are absolutely delighted with this renewed commitment which will allow us to continue our vital work on threatened butterflies and moths as well as begin work on new priorities such as Duke of Burgundy, wood white and white-spotted sable moth.”

Plantlife’s Chief Executive, Victoria Chester, said: "Natural England has been tremendously important in supporting the conservation of species such as Deptford Pink along side the identification of the most important areas for wild plants. We look forward to working with Natural England to secure the best level of funding from government to meet the challenges facing biodiversity now and beyond 2010."

Local case studies

Cumbria

Fund-raising is a major part of a Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership co-ordinator’s job and in Cumbria the biodiversity officer is involved in Cumbria’s Upland Hay Meadows. A large project developed by the Cumbria Local Biodiversity Action Plan manager, who has brought in over £350,000 funding from external sources.

Upland hay meadows support some rare species such as globe flower and varieties of lady’s mantle. Hay meadows are also important feeding grounds for bats and are ideal nesting sites for twite, grey partridge and yellow wagtail.

Cumbria Biodiversity Officer, Graham Jackson-Pitt said: “The announcement of new funding by Natural England is great news for the wildlife and habitats of Cumbria. This money will support the post of Cumbria’s Local Biodiversity Manager and the work of the Cumbria Biodiversity Partnership, allowing us to develop projects benefiting both the natural environment and people locally.”

Surrey

The Hindhead Together Partnership, part funded by Natural England, is working to enable 1600 acres of National Trust heathland to be reunited, creating one of the largest areas of heathland restoration in the South East of England.  The landscaping work that will be done as part of the complete project will further enhance the Surrey Hills AONB and emphasise landscape conservation in the area. 

The Special Protection Area for ground nesting birds and the SSSI within the Devil’s Punchbowl will be further protected and promoted as a result of the scheme. This work comes as a result of the removal of the old A3.

Caroline White, Project Co-ordinator, for Hindhead Together said: "Natural England funding is instrumental in furthering the work of Hindhead Together to secure a brighter future for the Hindhead Area.  We are extremely pleased at the announcement of secured funding for three years which will assist us in continuing our work to reunite one of the largest areas of heathland in the South East of England and work with the local community to realise all the landscape and environmental benefits brought about by the A3 tunnel construction scheme."