An introduction to the East Dartmoor Landscape Recovery Scheme

East Dartmoor is a special place. Its moors, wooded valleys and upland farms support a vibrant rural economy and provide critical refuge for rare and threatened wildlife. But this landscape is under increasing pressure. Biodiversity loss, climate change, rising visitor numbers and changes to agricultural subsidy mean that rural businesses, and the ecosystems they depend on, face an uncertain future. Through the East Dartmoor Landscape Recovery Scheme, a local partnership of landowners, farmers and conservation organisations is working together to build ecological and economic resilience, securing the future of this unique landscape. Having completed a 3-year development phase, the project’s proposals are now with DEFRA, who will decide whether the scheme will proceed to the next stage. If successful, the project will secure funding to deliver a 20-year programme of landscape-scale nature recovery across East Dartmoor. Join the project team to learn more about the scheme’s aims, the species and habitats it will work to protect and how local communities can get involved as work gets underway in 2027/2028. Image credit: Donald Sutherland