Countryside managers prepare for climate change — SkimNews
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- North Pennines National Landscape (NPNL) adopted a five-year management plan (2026–31) prioritizing climate change readiness and public access, endorsed by four local councils.
- Chris Woodley-Stewart, director of NPNL, described the plan as the most ambitious and realistic to date, emphasizing voluntary cooperation over compulsion.
- Raby Estates, a major land manager, is collaborating with NPNL on wildfire prevention, including using drones and managing fuel loads on farms.
- Duncan Peake, chief executive at Raby Estates, highlighted drone technology as a significant addition to wildfire control capabilities.
- NPNL is restoring peatlands and protecting woodlands to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and sequester carbon in response to climate projections.
- NPNL will support farmers in hosting educational visits for young people who lack regular access to rural landscapes, aiming to broaden inclusivity.
Why it matters: Upland areas like the North Pennines face heightened climate risks, and this plan directly links ecosystem restoration to community resilience. By equipping farmers with firefighting tools and expanding access for underserved youth, it shifts conservation from protection alone to active, inclusive adaptation—without regulatory enforcement, relying instead on cooperation across 11,000 square kilometers of sensitive terrain.
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