A new national park could be created in the Chilterns as part of the government’s ‘nature pledge’ to protect England’s countryside.

Steve Barclay, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced this week that £15 million worth of funding would be directed to the formation of a new national park in England, among other ‘nature pledges’ including ensuring the ongoing protection of National Landscapes, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

A government-commissioned landscape review, published by Julian Glover MBE in 2019, previously called for three new national parks to be created in the UK, in the Chilterns, Cotswolds and Dorset.

Mr Glover told the BBC yesterday (November 29) that he was “thrilled” to have “real progress backed with some extra money to help our national landscapes and national parks do more for people and more for nature”.

Adding: “They are beautiful places that lift our souls and should be full of life, but we now need to find new and greater ambition to support a nation which needs them to thrive."