Green recovery windfall for Millennium Trust

Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust has received a grant of £244,700 from the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust’s Deeper Connections project has been awarded a grant from the Government’s £40 million second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery.  Deeper Connections will create and restore 10 hectares of habitat along the Long Preston Floodplain as well as engaging 8,000 people to connect with nature.  

Work will be carried out on over 600 sites from North Northumberland to the tip of Cornwall, and combined with the first round, almost a million trees will be planted, contributing towards the Government’s commitment to treble tree planting rates across England by the end of this Parliament.

Deeper Connections will create and restore 10 hectares of habitat in the Long Preston Deeps Floodplain, focusing on wildlife corridors that provide vital nature-based solutions.  This includes 16 separate schemes that will regenerate riparian woodlands and hedgerows, protect wetlands and tributaries, and provide natural flood management.  There will also be a focus on the planting of landscape trees to combat ash dieback

The project will also recognise the important link between the community and this stunning landscape. It aims to connect 8,000 people to nature, including under-represented communities, through improved access and interpretation, volunteering and events.  60 farmers will also be engaged in the project highlighting how sustainable agriculture can contribute to effective environmental management.

Rima Berry, Deeper Connections Project Manager, said: “This project will enable us to build on the success of our partnership work over the last 17 years, which has restored the floodplain in harmony with agriculture by delivering vital small-scale schemes that connect the mosaic of habitats in the area.  The Long Preston Deeps is a largely undiscovered landscape on people’s doorsteps that can inspire them to learn new skills and get involved in work to protect the environment as we emerge from the pandemic. We are looking forward to working with farmers, community groups, volunteers and young people to enhance and care for the floodplain.”

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of the Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. Connecting people with nature is another priority theme: by increasing access to nature and greenspaces, projects will support both physical and mental wellbeing. The Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

Environment Minister, Rebecca Pow, said:  “The diverse and ambitious projects being awarded funding today will help environmental organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and crucially, help more of the public to access and enjoy the outdoors. Through our £80 million Fund, we are on track to support over 2,500 jobs, plant almost a million trees and increase nature recovery at a huge scale across the country, which will help us deliver against our 25 Year Environment Plan.”

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “From wetland restoration, to creating wildlife-rich habitat for bees, it is vital that we value, protect and rebuild our natural heritage. This new funding will not only allow projects to carry out direct conservation, which is essential in protecting our biodiversity, but it will increase awareness of how and why we need to change our behaviours in order to protect our future.” 

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:  “By supporting jobs from Northumberland to Somerset, the Green Recovery Challenge Fund will help deliver a nature positive future. The fund supports young people to develop skills needed to protect nature, build back greener and prepare for climate impacts, like floods and heatwaves.”

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said: “Our environmental and conservation charity sector does an incredible job in protecting, improving and restoring the natural environment for the benefit of communities and the economy.”

Forestry Commission Chair Sir William Worsley said: “This funding will help deliver thousands more trees and help us achieve our target of trebling tree planting rates in England by the end of the Parliament. We need to work towards net zero emissions by 2050; to address biodiversity loss; to better connect people with nature; and to create more green jobs in doing so. Trees are central to this, and the projects being awarded these grants will have a hugely important role in helping us realise these objectives.”

A full list of awards is available to view at: https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/publications/green-recovery-challenge-fund-second-round-decisions-july-2021