Funding Secured for Major UK Nature Restoration Project

Close to 3,000 hectares of degraded land in northern England, an area roughly the size of 4,200 football pitches, is earmarked for nature restoration. This follows the procurement of vital funding for a major UK nature conservation project.

The project aims to rewild the Emblehope and Burngrange Estate in Northumberland, an endeavour long cherished by Restore, the UK nature restoration company. This week marked a significant milestone for the project, with nearly £9m raised to purchase the site. Notably, some of the funding was contributed by the purpose-led bank Triodos UK.

The project has a central aim of renewing the estate’s degraded peatlands. According to Restore, these will serve as crucial carbon sinks, contribute to biodiversity support, and aid in reducing flooding. There are also plans to provide social and economic benefits, in part through the implementation of low-intensity grazing on the restored land.

Benedict Macdonald, founder and director of Restore, emphasised the importance of dedicated large-scale sites for nature restoration in the English uplands. “While many upland estates, farms, and forestry derive benefits from nature as a by-product of commercial activities, the Emblehope site is set to be a biosphere-level reserve where nature is the primary focus,” he explained.

Note: Image of the Emblehope estate was sourced from Grays.