MINISTER for Nature Mary Creagh has been shown a number of projects on Exmoor aiding peatland restoration, temperate rainforest recovery, meadow management, and reinforcement of rare or endangered species such as water voles, marsh fritillary butterflies, and pine martens.

The Minister was shown around during her visit by Exmoor National Park Authority chief executive Sarah Bryan, who said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to showcase some of the exciting work happening here in the national park by farmers, landowners, trusts, charities, and the authority itself.

“We were particularly keen for the Minister to see how a variety of alternative funding streams are being used to deliver nature and landscape recovery projects, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, environmental land management schemes, Farming in Protected Landscapes grants, the ‘Caremoor for Exmoor’ donation platform, and green finance.

“If we are to meet international commitments to protect nature and reduce carbon emissions, the people who live and work in national parks will have a key role to play.

“Innovation and partnership working will be vital for us to achieve our ambitions to create landscapes that are better for nature, better for people, and help us mitigate and adapt to climate change.”

Ms Creagh said: “Our national parks are the beating heart of nature in this country, and it was a pleasure to visit Exmoor, just as millions of people do every year.

“It was wonderful to see some of the work taking place to look after some of our rarest and most precious habitats.

“This Government is committed to protecting 30 per cent of land for nature by 2030, and national parks have a crucial role to play in achieving this.

“Embracing innovation and making use of a range of new funding streams will ensure our national parks can deliver even more for people and nature into the future.”