It is 2040, the North Pennines National Landscape is the most wildlife-rich area in England’s uplands. Its distinctive landscapes, natural assets and cultural heritage are widely appreciated and actively cared for. The landscape retains a strong sense of wildness, remoteness and tranquillity, with no major intrusive development. Sustainable farming and land management support healthy ecosystems that, in turn, sustain a strong rural economy, resilient communities and wider public benefits. The area demonstrates the full potential of Protected Landscapes to support nature, people and place.
Ambitions for the North Pennines
People
Local communities take pride in their natural and cultural heritage and play an active role in looking after and promoting it. People from all backgrounds have more opportunities to enjoy the area’s beauty and connect with nature. Farmers are recognised and fairly rewarded for managing land in ways that deliver multiple public benefits.
Place
Well-managed, distinctive landscapes, nature and heritage support the local economy and shape thriving, sustainable communities.
Nature
A rich, resilient network of habitats stretches from the fell-tops to the lower dales and beyond, where wildlife thrives alongside the people who live and work here. Areas where nature is already strong act as a foundation for expanding habitats and species populations. Previous declines in nature have stopped and begun to reverse, helped by restoring natural processes wherever possible.
Climate
Habitats store and absorb carbon effectively, and nature, cultural heritage and access infrastructure are in the best possible condition to withstand the impacts of climate change.
The North Pennines is fit to face the future and can be handed on to the next generation in ever-improving condition.