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New Forest National Park Authority celebrates £440,000 extra government support




AN extra £440,000 of government support has been received by New Forest National Park Authority to fund rangers and continue vital conservation work.

On Wednesday, the Secretary of State for Environment announced an additional £4.4m will be divided between the country’s 10 national parks this financial year to support services.

This comes after a recent joint plea was made by all parks for more money, with the New Forest saying that since 2010 its core funding has halved in real terms.

New Forest National Park Authority offices at Lymington town hall
New Forest National Park Authority offices at Lymington town hall

NPA chair Prof Gavin Parker said: “This one-off grant is vital to ensure we can continue to resource our rangers and continue projects with Forest partners to ensure people respect and care for the New Forest; help more children and young people learn about the natural world and gain green skills and jobs; and carry out vital conservation work to maintain and help recover nature.”

Much of the NPA’s £3.3m annual grant from Defra is used to provide protection for the New Forest and carry out its role as the area’s planning authority.

“The New Forest National Park is a haven for wildlife in the busy south with many rare habitats and species. It also has 34,500 residents and welcomes millions of visitors each year,” said Prof. Parker.

Speaking after the announcement, Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “Our national parks are the jewel in our cherished landscapes.

“They support thriving communities, economies, wildlife and are important places for public health and wellbeing.

“This additional £4.4m of funding will support the important work that national park authorities do across our countryside and allow local people and visitors to enjoy these much-loved spaces.”

In addition to the additional funding, the government has also pledged to extend a Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme until March 2025, which is worth over £100,000 a year to the New Forest.

Between July 2021 and March 2024 this scheme will have paid out £456,000 in grants to help plant miles of hedgerow, create ponds, plant orchards and undertake measures to reduce flooding.

National Parks England chair Andrew McCloy said: “Today’s announcement is welcome news. At a time when our national parks are facing a real term reduction in government grant, this additional funding is desperately needed.

‘National parks account for almost 10% of England’s land area and have ambitious plans to deliver on government targets for nature, climate and public access.

“We have been calling for the powers and resources needed to achieve this ambition. It’s vital that today’s announcement for this one-off funding is backed up by a commitment to support our national parks in the long term.”



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