England Invests £30M to Restore Wildlife Habitats

England's most beloved landscapes are getting a major lifeline for wildlife, with a £30 million government investment announced to restore precious habitats where threatened species once thrived.

The new Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund will transform thousands of hectares across England's National Parks, National Landscapes, and the Broads over the next three years. Nature Minister Mary Creagh announced the initiative as a crucial step toward protecting 30% of England's land for nature by 2030.

These protected landscapes serve as vital havens for species on the brink, including hedgehogs, hazel dormice, water voles, curlews, and turtle doves. Habitat degradation has been the main driver of their decline, but this funding promises to turn that tide.

The scale of what's possible is already taking shape. In the Peak District, the National Park Authority is partnering with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to restore over 80 hectares of upland moorland at Gun Moor. After years of degradation left the area's deep peat drying out and wildlife retreating, the project will restore 24 hectares of wet heath, re-wet deep peat, and establish new native woodland on lower slopes.

Protected landscape teams will work closely with conservation organizations, farmers, and local communities who know their land best. This collaborative approach ensures projects are rooted in local knowledge and trust, creating lasting change that communities can nurture together.

The Ripple Effect: This announcement follows an even larger £90 million commitment made in March for species recovery projects, the biggest investment in species recovery ever announced by a UK government. Together, these initiatives form Wild Again, an umbrella campaign to halt species decline by 2030 and return lost species like beavers and white-tailed eagles to English landscapes.

The funding represents more than just numbers. Farmers are being recognized as essential partners in habitat restoration, with the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme already proving that productive farming and nature recovery can work hand in hand. When farmers are trusted and supported to lead, nature can recover at scale.

Joan Edwards from The Wildlife Trusts noted that while generations have been inspired by wildlife in these special places, those connections have been fraying due to climate change and land use pressures. This £30 million investment helps reverse that loss and empowers people to restore habitats in the places they cherish most.

The initiative will help England meet its legal Environment Act target to restore over 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042, ensuring future generations can experience the wonder of thriving wildlife in the landscapes that define the country.