Nearly £1 million in funding has been awarded to support nature recovery and climate resilience in the Shropshire Hills.
The £993,000 grant will help restore habitats, strengthen biodiversity, and improve ecological connectivity through the Shropshire Hills Landscape Connections project.
Sarah Marston, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: "This is fantastic news for the Shropshire Hills and for everyone who cares about protecting and enhancing our natural environment.
"The Heritage Fund grant recognises both the importance of this nationally significant landscape and the strength of the partnership approach that is already taking shape across the county.
"Nature recovery, climate resilience and environmental stewardship cannot be delivered by any one organisation alone.
"By working with landowners, communities, conservation groups and partner organisations, we have a real opportunity to create lasting benefits for wildlife, landscapes and people."
The funding will support the development phase of the project, which brings together farmers, landowners, communities, and partner organisations to explore large-scale nature restoration.
If the next stage is approved, the project could unlock an additional £8.9 million in delivery funding.
Over the next 10 years, it aims to engage more than 200 landowners, deliver large-scale river restoration projects, and support a wide range of smaller nature recovery projects.
The programme will also offer opportunities for young people through funded traineeships.
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Our landscapes are facing unprecedented challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss, and meeting them requires people to work together across boundaries.
"Thanks to National Lottery players, Landscape Connections is supporting that collaboration, bringing together landowners, farmers, communities and partners to restore nature and build resilience across some of the UK’s most treasured places."
The Shropshire Hills Landscape Connections project is part of the wider £150 million Landscape Connections programme – a 10-year investment by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support large-scale nature recovery projects across some of the UK’s most important landscapes.
Led by the National Trust, the project is being co-developed with the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Severn Rivers Trust, Upper Onny Farmers Group, Natural England, and the Environment Agency.
Shropshire Council is already collaborating with partners through its recently adopted Local Nature Recovery Strategy and other environmental schemes.
Share