European Conservation Finance Boot Camp

The North Pennines National Landscape team hosted the third European Conservation Finance Boot Camp on behalf of Eurosite at Slaley Hall Hotel on the fringes of the North Pennines National Landscape and UNESCO Global Geopark. We were pleased to be able to bring together delegates from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities of green finance for conservation.

Paul Leadbitter, Peatland Programme Manager at the North Pennines National Landscape, said: “We have been able to channel our experience in working with the private sector in the UK and abroad to shape a programme for this event that really looked in depth at how conservation organisations like us can benefit from these new models of funding.

“The event was informative and inspirational, and generated leads and discussions for everyone who attended.”

Speakers looked at topics from philanthropy and corporate partnerships, to tax incentives, as well as examining the markets for nature credits around the world.

Newmarket Holidays has supported the North Pennines National Landscape’s peatland restoration programme. Their Sustainability Executive, Charlotte Cox explained some of the challenges for businesses: “We were pleased to speak at this event not only to highlight our partnership with the North Pennines National Landscape and how Newmarket Holidays contributes to their peatland restoration work, but to help make the case for why more UK businesses should be encouraged to get involved in conservation funding.

“While there is growing interest in supporting UK-based nature restoration, the reality is that businesses face real challenges when trying to contribute meaningfully. The current tax and reporting landscape doesn’t make it easy, and often pushes companies toward traditional offsetting over high-integrity local projects.

“By sharing our experience, we hoped to shine a light on both the value of the work in the North Pennines and the policy and financial changes needed to unlock greater corporate support.”

Hannah Wilcox Brooke, Head of Nature-based Solutions at the National Landscapes Association, said: “It’s been a pleasure to share the broader work of the National Landscapes UK network at the Eurosite Green Finance Boot Camp. From tax incentives to biodiversity units, day one has explored a wide range of thought-provoking topics—encouraging all of us to think beyond our usual silos and consider innovative approaches to funding and delivering nature recovery.”

Many different types of corporate support for conservation were explored. One such partnership was the North Pennines National Landscape team’s work with Allendale Brewery, to raise awareness about adder conservation in the area and build on a long history of joint working by the two organisations. Sarah Ingwersen, Engagement Officer for the North Pennines National Landscape team said: “The partnership with Allendale Brewery on the Adder Lager product has been really successful. We worked on the new designs together to make sure the label was an accurate and positive representation of adders. We were also able to use the packaging design to help raise awareness of how important this species is and how to get involved in local efforts to protect it.”