The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced new additional funding of £4.4 million for England’s national parks.
The funds will be provided to the country’s ten National Park Authorities to support services like visitor centres and park rangers.
Each authority will be awarded an equal share of the grant, which aims to highlight the role that national parks play in protecting wildlife and landscapes, as well as their role in tourism and the regional economy.
Speaking on the additional funding, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said England’s national parks are the “jewel in our cherished landscapes”.
“They support thriving communities, economies, wildlife and are important places for public health and well-being,” she said.
“This additional £4.4 million of funding will support the important work that National Park Authorities do across our countryside, and allow local people and visitors to enjoy these much loved spaces.”
The 10 National Park Authorities that will benefit from an equal share of the £4.4 million in funding are:
- Broads;
- Dartmoor;
- Exmoor;
- Lake District;
- New Forest;
- North Yorkshire Moors;
- Northumberland;
- Peak District;
- South Downs;
- Yorkshire Dales.
“The funding will help protect vital assets, such as education centres and ranger services, and will provide more opportunities for people to enjoy national parks,” Coffey said.
“It could also be used to support the creation of new trails, residential programmes and mobility schemes.
“It will also support access and engagement programmes helping to conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of these protected landscapes.”
Defra also announced that the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme, currently delivered across ten national parks and 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) since 2021, will be extended until March 2025.
