National Park Authorities: Additional Funding

Friday 3rd March 2023 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Trudy Harrison)]

Our national parks protect some of our most precious landscapes and wildlife. The Government are providing £4.4 million in additional funding to the country’s 10 national park authorities to support them to deliver their services. This represents a 9% increase on their annual core grant. The Government provided an uplift on the core grant for AONBs—areas of outstanding natural beauty— last year.

The funding will help protect vital assets and will provide more opportunities for people to enjoy national parks. It could also be used to support access and engagement activities such as the creation of new trails, residential programmes and mobility schemes. It will support programmes helping to conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of these protected landscapes.

In addition, the Government’s Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme will also be extended until March 2025. The programme has been delivered across 10 national parks and 34 AONBs since 2021. This will enable national park authorities and local AONB teams to continue delivering outcomes for nature, climate, people and place.

[HCWS598]