On Wednesday 29 November, Government set out a new nature package, with measures to improve access to green spaces and connect the public with the natural world.
It has also been confirmed that the Linking Levisham project in the North York Moors National Park is one of the 34 projects to successfully receive funding.
In response to the announcements, Tom Hind, Chief Executive of the North York Moors National Park Authority, said:
“We’re delighted that Linking Levisham has been confirmed as one of the 34 schemes to receive funding as part of this package of nature announcements from Government.
“This flagship landscape recovery project will unite partners - including Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Forestry England and North Yorkshire Moors Railway - to restore natural habitats, increase ecosystem resilience and protect biodiversity. It will also create a blueprint for balancing conservation, agriculture and cultural interests in a heavily protected yet working upland environment.
“National Parks are unequivocally one of the most important assets this country has when it comes to tackling climate change head-on and it is encouraging to see that this is recognised by Government. We look forward to seeing more details on how the additional £15 million funding will be distributed, which should go some way to mitigating the more than 40% decline in core grant funding that National Parks have seen since 2010.
“We hope the competition for a new National Park excites communities in those areas and gives more people, particularly children and young adults, the opportunity to access nature and wild spaces in a way they haven’t been able to previously.
“National Parks have faced a challenging few years since the Landscapes Review was published in 2019, but our aims and purposes are more relevant than ever before. We are primed and ready to deliver great things for nature, people and climate, but we do need the resources to do it.”
Gareth Parry, Forest Management Director for Forestry England Yorkshire, said:
"The nation's forests aim to be one of the most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand, and this is a cornerstone in the vision for Linking Levisham. Through this partnership, Forestry England can help lead the development of fully functioning ecosystems, where species can establish, flourish and spread across landscapes.
"We are delighted to be working in partnership with the North York Moors National Park Authority, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to deliver this pivotal project, impacting the future of this place for generations to come."