Communities across the Forest of Bowland are set to benefit from a major new project to restore nature, improve access to green spaces, and support those who live and work in the landscape.

A £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will fund Bowland Connects, a new initiative led by Ribble Rivers Trust in partnership with the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, RSPB, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Lancashire County Council, United Utilities and the Woodland Trust. The funding will support early development work on habitat improvement and public engagement with the landscape.

Hannah Lederer of Ribble Rivers Trust said the project would begin by mapping habitats, wildlife and heritage features to identify where restoration work could have the greatest impact. The partnership will also review existing outreach to schools and communities to understand barriers to participation, and develop more inclusive ways for people to get involved.

Other partners welcomed the scheme. Rachael Antiws of the Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust said the aim was to help more people connect with nature on their doorstep, while Tony Lund of the Forest of Bowland National Landscape called it a "radically different landscape-scale programme." Michael Devlin of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust said the project would strengthen ties between farmers, landowners and nature recovery efforts, and RSPB's Robin Horner welcomed the scale of the partnership.

The project will also explore training in conservation, land management and rural crafts, and plans to establish a Bowland Integrated Farm Advice Hub to support farmers and land managers, alongside new funding models combining public, private and community investment.

The initial phase runs to May 2027, after which further development and delivery phases could follow, with up to eight years of work envisaged in total.

Helen Featherstone of The National Lottery Heritage Fund said National Lottery players' support would help protect Bowland's natural heritage and allow communities to connect with it for years to come.