Managers of England’s national landscapes are warning of an “existential threat” due to proposed budget cuts that could severely impact these areas of outstanding natural beauty. The 46 regions, covering 15% of England, are facing a 12% budget cut as part of Defra’s overall 2% reduction in the 2025-26 fiscal year. This comes after years of financial cuts totaling over 40% since 2010.
Leaders of national landscapes, such as the Tamar Valley, are expressing concerns about the impact of these cuts on their ability to protect and restore fragile ecosystems and endangered species. They fear that without sufficient funding, essential conservation efforts will grind to a halt, risking the degradation of these valuable landscapes. National landscapes receive only 16% of the core funding that national parks do, despite covering nearly twice the area and facing higher levels of pressure from farming and development.
The National Landscapes Association is calling on the government to commit to current funding levels and invest an additional £11m per year to ensure the protection and restoration of these vital areas. They emphasize the importance of these landscapes in meeting international nature recovery commitments and legal targets. A Defra spokesperson stated that they are considering the best approach to empower national landscapes to become greener, wilder, and more accessible, and will collaborate with the National Landscapes Association on this issue. The situation is described as dire, with national landscapes at “crisis point” and in urgent need of financial support to prevent irreversible damage to these treasured landscapes.
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