Exmoor Land Managers could benefit from new Wildlife habitat government fund
Precious habitat for wildlife in Exmoor National Park could be restored, thanks to the new ‘Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund’ announced by government this week. The fund offers new opportunities for farmers and land managers to work with nature across one of England’s most distinctive protected landscapes.
For Exmoor, this investment could help restore and connect a rich mosaic of habitats including species-rich grassland, wetlands, rivers, streams, floodplains, heathland and woodland, supporting nature recovery while strengthening the resilience of the landscape to climate change.
On Exmoor, habitat restoration will directly support species that depend on healthy, connected landscapes, including the marsh fritillary butterfly and water vole. Work to improve damp, flower-rich grasslands and suitable wetland and riverbank habitat will be vital in helping these threatened species recover and spread.
The Wildlife-Rich Habitat Fund will support practical action across Exmoor over the next three years, with Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) working alongside farmers, land managers, conservation partners and local communities to deliver projects rooted in local priorities. This could include restoring wet grassland for marsh fritillary butterflies, enhancing river and wetland habitats for water voles, and reconnecting habitats at landscape scale so wildlife can thrive.
The announcement builds on wider nature recovery work already under way on Exmoor, including ambitions to restore and create habitat through landscape-scale initiatives, improve the condition of rivers, streams and wetlands, and work with land managers to make space for wildlife alongside sustainable farming.
Head of Nature and Climate for ENPA Clare Reid said: “We welcome this investment and it’s a real opportunity for Exmoor. It could help us work with farmers, land managers and local communities to restore and reconnect important habitats across the National Park, from species-rich grasslands and wetlands to rivers, streams and valley landscapes.By improving wet grassland for marsh fritillary butterflies and restoring healthier wetland and riverbank habitat for water voles, we can support species that are closely tied to Exmoor’s special landscapes. Just as importantly, this fund could help strengthen the partnerships that are essential to delivering nature recovery on Exmoor in a way that benefits wildlife, people and place”.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: "Our national parks and protected landscapes are home to some of our most marginal species. Our Wild Again funding is already turning the tide on their decline. It will mean more birdsong, flower meadows full of bees and butterflies, and new areas of native woodlands. We're funding this recovery with the highest ever budget for nature, field by field, across England's most iconic and beautiful landscapes”.
Land managers interested in applying for Wildlife-Rich Habitat funding can contact the Farming in Protected Landscapes team at ENPA at conservation@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk