Defra is the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is primarily responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities in England.

Defra supports the National Landscapes Association in its mission ‘to lead and champion activity, working with National Landscapes teams, to protect and restore the UK's most outstanding landscapes and make sure everyone can enjoy them.’

It provides core funding for the National Landscapes Association to support collaboration and coordination between the National Landscapes, to advocate on their behalf and to promote the work of the network; as well as targeted funding through the Protected Landscape Partnership and other streams to support particular aims including programmes that help the UK become more resilient, build sustainable rural communities, bring in greater levels of investment for National Landscapes from private sources, and support more people to access the outdoors.