Bid for £1m to enhance 'treasured' landscape

## Summary
Bid for £1m to enhance 'treasured' landscape 36 minutes ago Share Save Maisie Lillywhite West of England Share Save Getty Images The North Wessex Downs National Landscape spans multiple counties An area described as "one of the most treasured in southern England" may be given enhancements worth £1m. Wiltshire Council has said it will support North Wessex Downs National Landscape's (NWDNL) major bid for the funding from the National Grid's Landscape Enhancement Initiative (LEI). Getty Images The North Wessex Downs is the third largest National Landscape in England Paul Sample JP, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said the funding would be a "significant step" in the council's goals of boosting wildlife recovery and expanding tree canopy cover. Jemima Sellwood, who is leading on the project from the NWDNL team, said: "We are delighted to have the support of Wiltshire Council to deliver on this project. "If approved, the project will mark a significant step forward in the delivery of the North Wessex Downs Management Plan for the next five years, especially for nature recovery across the National Landscape." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook , X and Instagram .

## Article Content
Bid for £1m to enhance 'treasured' landscape
36 minutes ago
Share
Save
Maisie Lillywhite
West of England
Share
Save
Getty Images
The North Wessex Downs National Landscape spans multiple counties
An area described as "one of the most treasured in southern England" may be given enhancements worth £1m.
Wiltshire Council has said it will support North Wessex Downs National Landscape's (NWDNL) major bid for the funding from the National Grid's Landscape Enhancement Initiative (LEI).
The downs cover 668 sq miles (1,730 sq km) of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, and is the third largest National Landscape in England.
The funding could be used to pay for more accessible gates, nature-friendly farming initiatives, new hedgerow and woodland planting, and improvements to footpaths and bridleways.
More from Wiltshire
Residents warned over 'unauthorised' clothes bins
Teen killed in crash left 'legacy' as organ donor
In Pictures: Spring cleans and secret paintings
Through the LEI, the National Grid funds projects that reduce the visual impact of electricity pylons.
It offers up to £300,000 per project, and the NWDNL plans to submit six bids across two funding rounds in 2026, Wiltshire Council said.
The proposal, agreed at the Wiltshire Council cabinet meeting on 17 March, will allow NWDNL to apply for multiple grants.
Getty Images
The North Wessex Downs is the third largest National Landscape in England
Paul Sample JP, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said the funding would be a "significant step" in the council's goals of boosting wildlife recovery and expanding tree canopy cover.
Jemima Sellwood, who is leading on the project from the NWDNL team, said: "We are delighted to have the support of Wiltshire Council to deliver on this project.
"If approved, the project will mark a significant step forward in the delivery of the North Wessex Downs Management Plan for the next five years, especially for nature recovery across the National Landscape."
Follow BBC Wiltshire on
Facebook
,
X
and
Instagram
. Send your story ideas to us on email or via
WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630
.
More on this story
Locals oppose 'inappropriate' industrial estate
Great bustards found breeding in new location
Plans to repair monument obscured by scaffolding
Related internet links
Wiltshire Council
North Wessex Downs Natural Landscape
Berkshire
Nature
Environment
Hampshire & Isle of Wight

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Getty Images The North Wessex Downs is the third largest National Landscape in England Paul Sample JP, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, said the funding would be a "significant step" in the council's goals of boosting wildlife recovery and expanding tree canopy cover.
- Jemima Sellwood, who is leading on the project from the NWDNL team, said: "We are delighted to have the support of Wiltshire Council to deliver on this project. "If approved, the project will mark a significant step forward in the delivery of the North Wessex Downs Management Plan for the next five years, especially for nature recovery across the National Landscape." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook , X and Instagram .

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- Bid for £1m to enhance 'treasured' landscape 36 minutes ago Share Save Maisie Lillywhite West of England Share Save Getty Images The North Wessex Downs National Landscape spans multiple counties An area described as "one of the most treasured in southern England" may be given enhancements worth £1m.
- Wiltshire Council has said it will support North Wessex Downs National Landscape's (NWDNL) major bid for the funding from the National Grid's Landscape Enhancement Initiative (LEI).
- The funding could be used to pay for more accessible gates, nature-friendly farming initiatives, new hedgerow and woodland planting, and improvements to footpaths and bridleways.
- More from Wiltshire Residents warned over 'unauthorised' clothes bins Teen killed in crash left 'legacy' as organ donor In Pictures: Spring cleans and secret paintings Through the LEI, the National Grid funds projects that reduce the visual impact of electricity pylons.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers landscape, wiltshire, national topics. Notable strengths include discussion of landscape. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 381.