Nature recovery projects planned for 99,000 hectares in England

Five major nature recovery projects covering up to 99,000 hectares are set to receive their share of £2.4 million from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England.

The projects aim to tackle wildlife loss, the climate crisis, and improve public access to nature across a wide variety of land from wetlands to city fringes.

Work will be undertaken to create new habitats, manage land for nature and carbon storage. Projects will also include plans to work with communities in cities and deprived areas in order to improve access to nature, including improved footpaths and new green areas.

The five projects sharing the funding include:

• Purple Horizons, a 10,000 hectare scheme on the fringes of the West Midlands conurbation, focusing on restoring and connecting fragmented heathlands;
• Somerset Wetlands, a 60,000 hectare area of the Somerset Levels and Moors, which aims to restore ecological processes across moors, wetlands and coast;
• Cambridge Nature Network, covering 9,200 hectares to develop wildlife-rich and accessible habitats in around the city;
• Wye Valley, Peak District, covering 10,000 hectares including 1,400 hectares of existing protected areas and priority habitat;
• Wendling Beck, Norfolk, 10,000 hectares of farmland and river valley to be transformed, restoring and creating habitat as well as adopting more sustainable farming practices.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, commented: "Nature recovery can only occur if we take action at scale, and that can only work through partnerships. These five landmark projects will seek to recover species and habitats through collaboration among a wide range of landowners and organisations, delivering benefits for wildlife, local economies, adaptation to climate change and for public wellbeing."