The National Landscapes Association recently responded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s call for evidence on National Lottery Good Causes, giving us cause to reflect on the incredible projects National Lottery funding has unlocked in National Landscapes. Policy Officer Joss Wozencroft looks at how the National Lottery has helped teams deliver lasting benefits for nature, heritage and people.
From stunning ancient woodlands to world-renowned coastline; sites of iconic historic and cultural significance to untouched Edens; upland peat to lowland meadow and pasture, National Landscapes are home to countless places cherished by the nation and the communities that steward, rely on, and shape them. Our teams are on the frontline of some of the country's biggest issues, and the National Lottery is one of our greatest allies.
Projects with legacy
Environment, nature recovery, community empowerment, arts and culture, and celebrating heritage are shared priorities, and National Lottery funding has enabled National Landscapes teams to deliver meaningful programmes with long-lasting benefits. Here is a very small sample of the National Landscapes projects which have benefited from a wide variety of National Lottery funding streams.
One of the largest natural heritage initiatives ever funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund was the ‘Tees-Swale: Naturally Connected’ programme which ran from 2020 to 2026. This was delivered by the North Pennines National Landscape team in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, covering an area spanning 845 km2 of the largest semi-natural habitats in England. £5.7m of Heritage Fund investment enabled delivery of an overall programme of £8.5m – illustrating how National Lottery support helps unlock further external funding. Over 200 farmers and land managers were involved in the programme, which enhanced and restored unique hay meadows and grasslands, created and recovered woodland and hedging, improved watercourse quality and restored peat; all vital in the fight to tackle biodiversity loss, mitigate climate change, and to connect precious upland habitats. The project also provided benefits to local schools and communities (including in urban areas) who can now more easily access and explore the North Pennines National Landscape and Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The National Landscapes Association’s first national arts commissioning programme, Nature Calling, which ran from May – October 2025, received a grant of over £600,000 from the Arts Council England Nationally Significant Project stream, funded with National Lottery money; with Defra providing over £200,000 of match funding via the Protected Landscapes Partnership.
Consequences by Radical Ritual, the Dorset National Landscape's Nature Calling project, since longlisted for the prestigious Artist Prize.
Nature Calling was a huge project which recognised that National Landscapes are more than vehicles for biodiversity targets or nature conservation – they are living, breathing cultural places. It was delivered by the National Landscapes Association working with national executive arts producer partners Activate Performing Arts. Six ‘hub’ National Landscapes commissioned nationally recognised writers and artists to work with people from underrepresented communities to co-create incredible artworks and develop a deep sense of connection with the beautiful places on their doorstep. 18 ‘spoke’ National Landscapes worked on smaller scale artistic projects. In total, over 8,000 participants were actively involved and we reached a live audience of over 55,000 people.
Luton Henge by Matthew Rosier, the Chilterns National Landscape's Nature Calling project
Looking to the future with Landscape Connections
The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s ‘Landscape Connections’ programme was launched in 2024, committing £150m of investment across the UK’s protected landscapes to ‘support those who care for these places’ and to ‘strengthen them as working landscapes... alive with nature and providing space for people to relax and connect with the environment’.
Landscape Connections funding is long-term, applications and project development phases are supported, and teams are encouraged to be ambitious with their proposals. These factors enable teams to think and work strategically. It puts them on the front foot to deliver positive change for nature, local communities, and the environment.
Recently we were absolutely thrilled to announce that five members of the National Landscapes family had secured over £5 million from the Landscape Connections fund, with the potential for a further £42.6m in delivery grants to be released following the development phase.
In conclusion
Reflecting on the last 30 years of partnership, three things are evident.
- National Lottery funding has been invaluable to National Landscape teams and enabled some amazing projects.
- National Lottery funding allows us to unlock significant further investment from a diverse range of other partners, maximising impact and legacy.
- National Lottery funding plays a crucial role in the fight for nature recovery, access to nature, and heritage celebration across the UK’s most cherished landscapes.
We look forward to many more years of successful partnership with the National Lottery, delivering for nature, heritage and people together.
