£1.3m mostly from Species Survival Fund to restore New Forest habitats, funded by Defra and Lottery, with support from NPA, wildlife trust and charities

A £1.3m grant will be spent on restoring 250 hectares of New Forest land to help increase wildlife populations.

The national park authority received just over £1m from the Species Survival Fund – a partnership between Defra and the National Lottery Heritage Fund - to help “halt species decline” locally.

The other £260,000 comes from the NPA’s scheme partners, including the Freshwater Habitats Trust, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association and Wild New Forest.

These bodies will be supported throughout the scheme by the RSPB and the New Forest Biodiversity Forum.

The wildlife restoration scheme will see partners and landowners working together to enhance 250 hectares of land – the equivalent of 350 football pitches – across 25 Forest sites.

An NPA spokesperson said improving habitats and re-establishing links between them will help “charismatic” species such as pine martens and great crested newts, along with reptiles like adders, to “thrive and create the conditions for a host of other species to flourish”.

It is also estimated some 14 jobs will be created or retained among the partners thanks to the scheme. It will also introduce five intern and 50 volunteer roles to help with practical land restoration work and conducting wildlife surveys.

NPA chair David Bence said: “Over half the national park is designated for its international importance for nature – a higher proportion than any other UK national park.

“This combination of habitats is hard to find anywhere else in western Europe. Yet, like elsewhere, nature is under serious threat here and the New Forest is the last stronghold for some species.

“National parks cover 10% of England and are vital in helping Defra meet its 30by30 conservation target. This programme represents a major step forward in the urgent conservation work we and our partners need to do for the New Forest, particularly in and around the national park boundary.”

The conservation scheme aims to improve the connection between the Forest’s protected central core or Crown Lands and the surrounding areas so species can spread further.

The Forest’s existing woodland, boggy mires, heathland, meadow, wetlands and streams will be improved, while new ponds, wetlands and meadows will be created.

The programme also aims to make Forest habitats more resilient to climate change.

The government's Species Survival Fund was developed by Defra and is being delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “The funding awarded as part of our flagship Species Survival Fund will enable local authorities, landowners, farmers, and our protected landscapes organisations to restore nature at scale and provide valuable green jobs in the process.

“Only by creating bigger and better habitats for wildlife will we be able to halt the alarming decline in species loss. This fund will be a key plank in achieving our legally binding targets to halt species loss and protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.”

National Lottery Heritage Fund chief executive Eilish McGuinness said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Defra again to distribute funding for these projects, which will support nature recovery by helping to boost the quality and quantity of wildlife-rich habitats across England.

“This partnership will further our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.”