The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s new strategic initiative, Landscape Connections, will support long-term projects to boost nature recovery and connect more people to the UK’s most treasured landscapes.
A Heritage Fund spokesperson said, “We want to drive systemic and lasting change across the UK’s protected landscapes. Over the next 10 years we will invest in around 20 projects to work with local communities, organisations, landowners and farmers to put entire landscapes and habitats into recovery.”
The funding is open to those who care for or can partner with National Parks and National Landscapes in England and Wales, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Northern Ireland, and National Parks and other world-class landscapes in Scotland.
The Heritage Fund is one of the UK’s largest investors in landscapes and natural heritage. Landscape Connections is part of the Fund’s “Heritage 2033” strategy, aiming to support the UK’s most precious landscapes, which are facing immense challenges due to a changing climate, changes to agriculture and rapidly declining nature and biodiversity.
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said, “Landscape Connections is an ambitious initiative and represents a major commitment by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to not only preserve our natural heritage but to reinvigorate and protect it for future generations. As one of the UK’s largest investors in landscapes and natural heritage, we strongly believe that everyone benefits from landscapes rich in nature and beauty.”