FARMERS and land managers in the North West are set to receive funding to deliver landscape scale projects that will help them to produce food sustainably while delivering for the environment. 

4 projects in the region will benefit from Landscape Recovery funding. Collectively, the projects cover more than 35,000 hectares and include plans to enhance carbon stores by creating a mosaic of habitats for wildlife along the rivers Eden and Kent, restore the West Pennine Moors into a favourable condition for nature, and support biodiversity and the delivery of net zero along the catchments of the Brock and Calder. 

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:- “The North West of England makes a huge contribution to our rural economy and has some of the most spectacular habitats in the country. Today's Landscape Recovery investment will bring farmers, landowners and others together to take actions that enable both nature and food production to thrive. The scheme is already delivering on a large scale through 22 existing projects around the country, and I'm pleased we’re able to offer additional support in the region through a further 4 exciting projects.”   

34 projects, covering over 200,000 hectares of land across England, have been successful in the 2nd round of the government’s Landscape Recovery scheme and will be awarded a share of £25 million funding. 

Together these projects - which aim to foster biodiversity, improve water quality and support a drive towards net zero alongside sustainable food production - will restore more than 35,000 hectares of peatland; sustainably manage more than 20,000 hectares of woodland, including temperate rainforest sites; create over 7,000 hectares of new woodland; benefit more than 160 protected sites (SSSIs) and involve at least 700 land managers. 

The plans are part of an ambitious new nature package announced by the government recently, including the search for a new National Park, £15 million for our most protected places, and new funding to help more children get outdoors and into the great British countryside. 
 

Landscape Recovery is designed to deliver outcomes that require collaborative action across a large area and is delivered by Natural England and the Environment Agency. 

Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper said:- "It’s fantastic to see so many exciting and ambitious landscape-scale projects that will support some of our most precious habitats and sites for nature, help tackle climate change and improve the health of our waterways. Many of these projects are farmer-led and involve farmers, land managers, communities, conservation organisations and businesses joining together to drive even greater change over a large area, restoring the health and integrity of the natural environment while delivering numerous benefits to our society.” 
 

Chair of the Environment Agency Alan Lovell said:- “The Landscape Recovery scheme has a vital role to play in enhancing our natural environment at a landscape scale, delivering benefits for water, wildlife, and people. It’s promising to see so many farmers, landowners, and stakeholders from around the country getting involved. I’m delighted that we can support even more of these ambitious projects than originally planned.” 

Details on successful projects 

The 4 new projects in the North West, include the Penrith2Kendal Arc Landscape Recovery Project, the West Pennines More Nature Partnership (WPMNP), The Resilient Glenderamackin and the Brock and Calder Landscape Recovery Project 

The Penrith2Kendal Arc project covers 14,000 hectares in the eastern Lake District and aims to improve the upland landscape and tributaries of the River Eden and River Kent by creating a mosaic of wildlife rich habitats that will increase species variety and capture carbon from the atmosphere. The project is also looking to improve water quality and water management to create a wilder, more resilient landscape which benefits both nature and the local community. Species that will benefit include white-clawed crayfish, freshwater pearl mussels, Atlantic salmon, brown trout, otter and water vole alongside many other upland heath species.  

The West Pennines More Nature Partnership is focussed on restoring the West Pennine Moors SSSI to favourable condition, by increasing the diversity of plant and animal life as well as the quality and size of the natural habitats in the area. Landowners, farm tenants, and local communities will all come together under the guidance of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The project will restore more than 5000 ha of SSSI protected sites.  

The Resilient Glenderamackin is working with land managers to restore nature, mitigate against climate change, reduce flood risk, and improve water quality in the Glenderamackin catchment of the Lake District National Park. The project will create and restore habitats including ponds and wetlands, restore rivers, reconnect floodplains, create woodland, scrub and hedgerows and improve soil health. Species including otters and Atlantic salmon will benefit from the project.  

Meanwhile, the Brock and Calder Landscape Recovery Project will create, restore and manage a series of habitats across the Brock and Calder, improving the condition of protected sites, supporting species diversity and helping to deliver net zero, whilst maintaining food production. The result will be a sustainable and diverse ecosystem, supporting an enhanced variety of flora, fauna and funga, incorporating ambitious natural flood management, regenerative farming and social impact programmes. Species that will benefit include fish such as brown trout, sea trout, Atlantic salmon, European eel and brook lamprey, and wading birds such as Curlew, lapwing, redshank and snipe. 

It follows on from the 1st round of the scheme, where 3 North West projects are already underway to help deliver vital outcomes for the local area. This includes the Lake district Eastern Fells which is an uplands 2887 hectare project focusing on fostering species such as water vole, red squirrel, pyramidal bugle, ring ouzel, cuckoo and marsh fritillary butterfly.