Stuart Anderson MP launches campaign to protect South Shropshire's natural landscapes
Stuart Anderson MP has launched a campaign to protect South Shropshire's natural landscapes, as questions remain over future funding available to protect the local countryside.
The campaign follows Stuart's recent meeting with representatives from the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team, which consists of 12 people employed by Shropshire Council.
The team is core funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). They support the restoraton of ancient woodlands, undertake outreach work with under-served communities, and raise funds for local community groups.
On his visit in December, Stuart was told about the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Management Plan for 2025-30. This Plan aims to help guide a sustainable future for the Shropshire Hills, so that it is ‘thriving in balance with nature’.
The Plan, which will go out for public consultation near the end of March 2025, aims to support the team's mission to protect and regenerate the Shropshire Hills National Landscape and to make sure everyone can enjoy it.
In December, the government tasked national landscapes to "deliver more for nature and tackle climate change." Yet, managers of those landscapes have warned that proposed cuts pose an “existential threat" to them.
Under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, national landscapes are charged with the task of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of those areas. Funding for these landscapes has been protected in real terms since 2015.
At the Autumn Budget, the government threatened to review funding available to flood defences and farm schemes to ensure it is "affordable." Environmental groups have said this could jeopardise efforts to recover lost habitats.
As a result of the Budget, day-to-day spending budget of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is due to be cut by 2% in the financial year 2025-26. National Landscapes Teams have been told to expect cuts of 12%.
The National Landscapes Association has warned that such cuts could create a "likelihood" that the government will fail to reach its international commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.
The Association has added that the 46 national landscapes, which cover 15% of England, were at risk of becoming “paper parks” with no visitor centres or rangers as a result of the cuts.
At Stuart's meeting, uncertainty surrounding the level of core government funding available for Shropshire in the next financial year was raised. In a letter to the Environment Secretary, Stuart has now called for a "sustained increase in funding."
Stuart has added that the increase must be at least in line with inflation in order to avoid the prospect of possible future cuts to services. He is asking the government to re-commit to current funding of £35 million a year for national landscapes partnerships.
As part of this, Stuart has called for an extension to the successful 'Farming in Protected Landscapes' programme. In Shropshire, the programme has distributed over £3.1 million to deliver farming projects.
The local programme has supported 147 projects in the Shropshire Hills, engaging with over 240 farmers and land managers. It is helping to restore nature, tackle climate change, improve access, and make farming businesses more sustainable.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Each year, millions of people visit national landscapes. So, I was delighted to meet with the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Team. They are working on a plan to integrate nature recovery with contributing towards building a sustainable future for local farming across the area. Sites like these are home to internationally important habitats and play an integral role in supporting sustainable tourism. Yet, possible cuts to government investment could put efforts to conserve the countryside at risk. That's why I have called on the government to protect their funding for years to come."
