Nature Improvement Areas scheme launched

Farmland habitats covering tens of thousands of hectares across England will be protected under a new government scheme.

Twelve Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs), between 10,000ha and 50,000ha, were announced on Monday (27 February) by DEFRA secretary Caroline Spelman.

They will each get a share of £7.5m to create wildlife havens, restore habitats and encourage local people to get involved with nature.

The funds will be used to help preserve and manage existing farmland, woodlands, heaths, streams and other wetlands.

DEFRA says the sites will provide space for wildlife to thrive, from creating heathland on brownfield sites, a 7ha lagoon and a network of wildlife-friendly dewponds to improving the conditions for birds, butterflies and amphibians.

Ms Spelman said: “Each of these projects has something different to offer – from the urban areas of Birmingham and the Black Country to the rivers and woods of North Devon; from marshes, coalfields and wetlands to woodland and arable chalkland and grassland.

“The exciting wildlife projects are the result of different organisations all working together with a common purpose – to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come.”

The 12 NIAs were chosen from 76 groups and awarded funding by a panel of experts, led by Sir John Lawton, and were a key commitment of the Natural Environment White Paper, published in June.

Sir John said: “I believe we have 12 outstanding NIAs, each unique in what it is setting out to achieve, for the benefits of people and wildlife.”

Among the 12 NIAs, DEFRA said many of the chosen areas will directly benefit farmland.

The Marlborough Downs, predominantly a farmer-led partnership, is looking to restore chalk and grassland habitats, increase the numbers of farmland birds as well as creating a network of traditional, clay-lined dewponds to act as wildlife havens.

The South Downs Way Ahead, which encompasses key chalk sites of the South Downs National Park, will see the restoration of 1,000ha of chalk grassland and encourage the return of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly and several species of farmland birds.

The Greater Thames Marshes, which includes agricultural marsh and urban habitats, will create and enhance grazing marsh, salt marsh and mudflat habitats.

And at least 1,427ha of wetland habitat will be restored at the Humberhead Levels, straddling Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

NIAs were a flagship policy contained in the government’s The Natural Choice – the first White Paper on the natural environment in 20 years.

The sites aim to improve the quality of the natural environment across England, halt the decline in habitats and species, and strengthen the connection between people and nature.

Local groups have worked together on proposals for how they intend to use the money to improve their local nature sites for the enjoyment of the public and the benefit of wildlife.