The good news is that National Landscapes teams are a success story. With almost a third of the peatland in National Landscapes already in recovery, these places hold 17.5% of the UK’s soil stored carbon – punching well above what their 15% land cover would suggest. They’ve restored 207km of hedgerow since 2021, protected hundreds of at-risk heritage monuments, supported hundreds of projects to reduce flood risk and put active partnerships in place through projects like Big Chalk, covering chalk and limestone landscapes across southern England – and 20% of the country.

With government spending on landscape chronically low (all 34 National Landscapes in England share the same funding as a single medium-sized secondary school), National Landscapes teams have still managed to do the job. They’ve become adept at pulling in money from other sources, at convening powerful partnerships in their local areas to get the work done, and at sharing best practice across the network. For every £1 invested in us by central government, our fundraising and convening skills mean we can spend at least £4 on the ground. But rising expectations along with cost increases means continually doing even more with even less. If National Landscapes can’t keep the staff who are trusted in the local area, know the projects and apply for the external funding, we can’t bring in that additional money that means the local work gets done. 

At a time when most people are feeling the pinch of the cost of living, and society seems more divided than ever, it can be a challenge to remember that landscape is not a nice to have, but the thing that underpins everything else; without a functioning environment, we don’t have a functioning economy. 

National Landscapes have so much potential to do more for the nation and very little investment is needed now to give the momentum that will set the ball rolling: to deliver national and international nature targets, to put the organisations on a more secure footing, to train a future generation of landscape professionals to put the UK on the front foot, leading the world in green innovation and to equip 15% of England (and 10% of the UK) to provide invaluable protections and benefits to society, but we need to redouble efforts now. 

Investing in landscape is an investment that benefits everyone too. Think about a day spent with people you love, enjoying being out and about in the countryside. You are calmer, you sleep better, you perform better when you’ve had that opportunity to unwind. The magic is that this is true for people from all backgrounds and across the political spectrum – people want to be good ancestors – whether that is to think of their grandchildren enjoying climbing a tree or to be part of the generation that made the difference in moving away from a reliance on fossil fuels and energy imports. 

Let’s look forward to a future where we’ve done the work needed to restore the balance in our landscapes and the investment is paying off. Take a moment to raise your eyes to the horizon and come with us on a journey to 2050, sharing a vision of a country where nature, people and business thrive together.

A recognition back in 2025 that conserving nature is an investment, not a cost, means that as we enter the National Landscape in 2050, the boundary marker only serves as a confirmation that this is a special place – you can already sense it all around. 

Bees and other pollinators buzz in wildflower meadows and the air smells fresh and clean.  The sound of birdsong rings out and wetlands teem with life. Species we’d feared would be lost forever from the UK have been brought back from the brink with careful habitat restoration. 

While the climate has changed, average global temperature rises have been kept under 1.9 degrees. Some species have migrated north, but the shared skills and knowledge in the collaborative National Landscapes network have helped habitats to adapt. 

The 2030 deadline for 30% of land and sea to be protected for nature committed to under the UN Leaders’ Pledge was narrowly achieved due to a ramp up of action in the last few years of the pledge, and the National Landscapes’ vision of ‘no blank space for nature’ throughout the whole of the UK has just been realised in 2050. Wildlife corridors have made it possible for species to spread from their existing strongholds through rural and urban green and blue spaces, and well-maintained public rights of way and affordable green public transport means people can easily access the National Landscape too. 

A first-time visitor to a National Landscape will be able to easily orient themself using carefully placed visitor interpretation and through conversations with welcoming shop owners. While each National Landscape is unique, familiar branding and a consistent offer means visitors know what to expect. Information on regular, affordable, green public transport; activities including self-guided routes selected according to terrain and distance; wilder spaces to explore independently; sites of interest; and encouragement and opportunity for visitors to make memories on their own terms. Toilets, food outlets and picnic sites are present, signposted, open and well maintained. History, culture and nature are celebrated and shared.

The local community is thriving and welcoming. Brownfield sites have been prioritised for development. The National Landscapes team and the local community have been consistently engaged early in planning processes to ensure the best planning decisions are made, balancing the needs of nature, climate, people and business. Affordable, sustainable homes are prioritised so young people and families can live in the area, part of a thriving, caring network of businesses and people. Rooftop solar is the norm for both old and new buildings and there are community-owned renewable energy projects keeping fuel supply robust and green, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and imported supplies. 

Farmers feel valued, and speak about their profitable, regenerative farming businesses, feeding the nation while restoring nature and improving access. Hedgerows and field edges are full of life. Access is good with paths and community spaces well maintained. Landowners speak highly of the advice and support they have received from the National Landscape team which has enabled them to connect with neighbours across the landscape to maximise their impact, and to be more ambitious with their access and nature-friendly farming projects, taking them into higher Environmental Land Management payment tiers and rewarding them fairly for the range of public goods they take pride in providing.

Upland peatland restoration, tree planting and restoration work across the river catchment has sequestered carbon and reduced the cycle of extreme flooding and drought by reconnecting watercourses to floodplains. Towns and villages downstream experience fewer flooding events due to restoration of the uplands, saving Treasury billions each year. Natural solutions provide filtration for plentiful pure, clean drinking water.

The investment in the 2020s in large scale projects like Big Chalk, the Great North Bog and Super NNRs has been more than returned to society. The attraction of a joined-up approach to nature restoration has proved an attractive proposition for investors, and the resulting nature-based solutions have delivered for nature, climate, people and place.

A bold designation programme means that everyone in the UK lives within half an hour’s journey of their closest National Landscape. All children spend time in these places from an early age, throughout their education as part of the curriculum, creating a new generation for whom it is normal to seek solace in, and who understand nature and their active role in caring for it. The next generation of landscape and environmental stewards have been fallen in love with nature, and high-quality training and well-paid jobs mean they are part of a world-leading workforce on green innovation. Citizen science activities and social prescribing enable local people and those from nearby urban areas to be engaged in natural surroundings, reaping wellbeing benefits and feeling knowledgeable and informed, able to contribute to decision making.

The democratically derived Management Plan is the five-year vision for the area, the shared endeavour of local authorities, national agencies, eNGOs, utility companies and the local community, taking inspiration and direction from agile and expert National Landscape teams under the leadership of knowledgeable and diverse partnership boards. Partnership organisations are clear on their role in actively contributing to the conservation and enhancement of the area. Communities have a real stake in their landscape, through shared ownership and active stewardship of places.

The UK’s approach to landscape conservation is recognised as a world leading example of how to work with the past and the future, drawing in visitors from across the globe. 

There is a real pride for residents and visitors alike in these places that give back so much to the nation which has invested in them, from carbon sinks to places to feel rooted, globally recognised nature restoration work, clean air and water, 

The natural beauty of a place is what makes it unique, characteristics derived from the geology, landform, nature and cultural heritage. The interplay between these factors dictates the species that thrive, the industries that grow, and the heritage, culture and language of the area – all shaped and influenced by waves and generations of people. National Landscapes are places we all have a stake in, and we can all feel invested in. These places have always changed and developed, but in 2050, their distinctiveness remains and is valued and protected for the nation.

How will you be a good ancestor? Click the button to make your pledge.