Agenda item

The Head of Landscape and Engagement presented the report, which was to inform Members about the Authority’s progress in Landscape and Nature Recovery since March 2025 and what this means for the future.

There were no updates to the report.

The Members discussed the following points:

• There are significant issues in going from development to implementation of the Landscape Recovery Schemes.  Have been looking at different models for funding and if the Authority could run it in house, or alternatively it could be run as an independent company, other national parks use a whole mix of methods to run this programme.   Do need to evidence that exploring private finance. 
• 3.2.8 of report mentions European Diploma for Protected Areas Award, and members asked what do we get out of this as a National Park Authority? -  How much does it cost to achieve, is it worth it and what is the value of it?  It involves submitting one report a year and there is a visit once every 10 years to endorse the award. The PDNPA has held this award for 60 years and is the only UK national park that has this award.  Given the amount of input required then fairly small for something important, the reward goes beyond the UK boundaries and establishes our position in Europe and across the world.
• This National Park has 6 different local authorities and the creation of the “One Nature Recovery Plan” for the Peak District is very resource intensive, it has been developed with a co-ordinated approach and still trying to streamline the processes.  The Nature Recovery Plan is not a statutory document but the Local Nature Recovery Strategy is a statutory document.
• There were comments about vulnerability and volatility of farming and the risks that are taken and the impact of the war on fuel prices and the weather.  Farming a landscape should be land-sharing, e.g. environmental goals along with producing food.
• Green Finance is a big opportunity and there is a need to explore as an Authority how Green Finance can be tapped into.  Much has been done with MFFP, and Morridge Hill is the next opportunity.  The Authority needs to use its’ own assets to implement and show what can be done on its’ own land. 
• The National Park Authority should congratulate itself at being at the forefront of Green Finance.  The MoorLife 2020 project was funding with no public investment (through the water companies and the EU).  The National Highways project is all funded through green finance.  National Park Partnership have done some excellent work with accessing funding which is not from public finance.

The recommendation as set out in the report was proposed and seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED

1. To note progress in delivering to the Peak District National Park Management Plan 2023-28 and Authority Plan Landscape and Nature Recovery aim and targets.