Northumberland National Park will receive £440,000 to support services such as visitor centres and park rangers, the Government has announced today.
It is one of 10 UK National Parks to benefit from an equal share of a £4.4 million grant. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) says that the funding award is in recognition of the vital role that national parks play in protecting precious wildlife and landscapes and the importance they have for tourism, the regional economy and public access.
In November, Northumberland National Park chief executive Tony Gates said that the Park was "cut to the bone" and that £1.7m alone would be used to make sure the National Park could open its doors and perform its core functions. The sum announced this morning takes the Government's grants to the the National Park above £3million and gives the Park Authority some time to reconsider plans to balance its budget and create some flexibility to invest in the priorities in the authority's new business plan, which is due to be approved by board members this month.
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Despite welcoming the funding, Mr Gates says that the park still faces significant financial pressures over the medium-term due to the ongoing flat-cash annual settlement from Defra. Due to the current funding formula for the National Parks grant, which takes into account area, number of visitors, length of rights of way and heritage features; Northumberland National Park receives a smaller share as the National Park with the fewest visitors.
Mr Gates said: "This one-off funding is very welcome, at a time when Northumberland National Park Authority faces significant financial pressures over the medium-term due to the ongoing flat-cash annual settlement from Defra. Each of the 10 National Parks in England will receive the same one-off amount, meaning for those least funded authorities, of which Northumberland National Park is one, the funding is helping most those closest to the financial cliff edge."
"Whilst we welcome this news, we want to emphasise that it is one-off funding and will need to be backed by adequate funding for National Parks over the medium and longer term. Due to the current funding formula for the National Parks grant, Northumberland National Park Authority does not receive its fair share of funding compared to other National Parks in England and this still needs to be addressed."
Andrew McCloy, chairman of National Parks England, also welcomed the new funding, but believes a long-term plan is needed to help them deliver on the Government's climate and nature targets. He said: "At a time when our National Parks are facing a real term reduction in government grant, this additional funding is desperately needed.
"It will provide some short-term help to address significant financial pressures, with cuts to staff and services in a number of National Parks already a reality. 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."
Thérèse Coffey, environment secretary, 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 grant 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."
The Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme, which has been delivered across 10 National Park and 34 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) since 2021, will also be extended until March 2025. This aims to enable such organisations to deliver outcomes for nature, climate, people and place.
Where is your favourite place to visit in Northumberland National Park? Let us know!
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