Decision

To approve the participation in the ancient woodland restoration project development bid, led by the Woodland Trust, to seek £201,061 of grant funding for North Yorkshire Council from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside £35,481 match funding from the Council.

Reasons for the decision

Authorisation to participate in the bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to obtain development funding for the ancient woodland restoration project is recommended because:
• it will enable the National Landscape team to begin work towards restoring ancient woodland, which is an important nature recovery aim as set out in the Nidderdale National Landscape Management Plan 2025-2030 and the North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy
• the NLHF funding will cover 85% of the development project costs
• the required match funding is available from the National Landscape team’s external core Defra grant fund
• it will enable us to work with in partnership with the Woodland Trust, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and White Rose Forest.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Do not participate in the development stage bid – this option is not considered appropriate because it will not help towards the objective of restoring ancient woodland, which is an important part of collective nature recovery aims as set out in the Nidderdale National Landscape Management Plan and the North Yorkshire and York Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Option 2: Participate in the development stage bid - this option is recommended. If the funding bid is successful then we will be able to work with a number of important, well-resourced partners to develop plans for the delivery of a large-scale ancient woodland restoration project. It is noted that participation in the development stage does not automatically mean that we have to participate in the delivery stage (which will be the subject of a separate bid and separate collaboration agreement between partners).