Thanks to Government’s £4.4 million extra investment, all ten National Parks will receive an equal share of additional funding.
All ten National Park Authorities will be awarded the additional grant in recognition of the vital role that National Parks play to protect our precious wildlife, our world famous scenery, and support the tourism sector.
This extra funding will support education centres, ranger services, new trails, residential programmes, and provide more opportunities for people to enjoy National Parks.
Selaine Saxby MP has welcomed the news that £440,000 in extra funding is being invested into Exmoor National Park to protect and conserve our natural environment and widen access to our scenic beauty spots, supporting tourism and growing the economy.
The extra investment will support services for visitors, including education and visitor centres, ranger services, new trails, residential programmes, and provide more opportunities for people to enjoy National Parks.
The new funding will support access and engagement programmes that are helping to conserve the natural beauty and wildlife of these protected landscapes for future generations to enjoy.
The Government has also confirmed that the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) scheme, delivered across 10 National Parks and 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 2021, has been extended until March 2025 to continue supporting custodianship of our world renowned natural heritage.
Selaine Saxby MP for North Devon said:
“Exmoor National Park is a proud part of our community and a tourism destination for day trippers, and holidaymakers from all over the world.
“That is why I welcome £440,000 as part of £4.4 million in extra funding from the Conservative Government to support visitor and education centres, ranger services, and more opportunities for people to enjoy our National Parks.
“I was delighted to recently welcome many food businesses from Exmoor to Westminster to show their wares and raise their important place in our rural economy.
“By protecting and enhancing our National Parks we can safeguard them for future generations to enjoy, while supporting tourism and helping to grow the economy.”
Commenting, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:
“Our National Parks are the jewel in our cherished landscapes. They support thriving communities, economies, wildlife and are important places for public health and wellbeing.
“This additional £4.4 million of funding will support the important work that National Park Authorities do across our countryside and allow and allow local people and visitors to enjoy these much loved spaces.”
Sarah Bryan, Chair of the Exmoor National Park Authority said:
“We are enormously grateful for the money which will support opportunities for people to enjoy Exmoor, including at our Pinkery Outdoor Education Centre, through our events programme and our management of footpaths and bridleways. It will also help in our projects for wildlife conservation, climate mitigation and conservation of cultural heritage.
Alongside the one-off funding, we have also been informed that the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme, which has been delivered across 10 National Parks and 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) since 2021, will be extended until March 2025. This will help us work with farmers and land managers to support a variety of great projects across the moor.
We are obviously delighted that the Government has recognised the challenges we face and has found this one-off support. We hope that Government will continue to recognise the important role National Parks play in providing special places for people and nature, helping rural economies and responding to the climate emergency.”
