Smarter use of government land to support nature and climate
Half a million hectares to help deliver for nature recovery and climate adaptation, strengthening climate resilience
A new, smarter way of using Government-owned land will support nature recovery, climate adaptation and the resilience of public services under new plans set out today (Friday 26 June).
Bringing together action across more than 577,000 hectares – roughly 4% of England’s land – the Government Estate Nature Plan moves from fragmented, site‑by‑site efforts to a more coordinated, whole estate approach, strengthening resilience and helping protect critical public services from climate impacts.
By minimising disruption caused by water shortages and wildfires, healthy ecosystems can play a vital role in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The focus will be to both support nature and build infrastructure resilience.
As the largest landowner in England, the Government is uniquely placed to help drive nature recovery across the country through actions like woodland creation and peatland restoration, setting an example for other large landowners. For the first time, government is applying the Land Use Framework to its own estate; managing land more strategically to deliver for nature alongside core public services.
The plan, being published during London Climate Action Week, will see a series of ‘lighthouse’ projects – funded pilot projects on operational land including defence training areas, transport corridors and prison grounds, demonstrating how nature recovery can support essential public services. The evidence from these projects will be used to inform future, larger-scale projects.
Recent independent research indicates the government estate has capacity to generate ecosystem services valued at £67 billion from natural capital maintained in good condition.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:
“As the largest landowner in the country, government has a unique opportunity to work with others to show how nature can be restored at scale while delivering essential public services.
“This new plan is the first of its kind globally and will ensure progress towards our goal to protect 30% of our land and seas by 2030.”
Carl von Reibnitz, Chief Sustainability Officer at Ministry of Justice said:
“The Government Estate Nature Plan reflects what the Ministry of Justice has already learned: managing natural assets well is an operational necessity, not an environmental add-on.
“From our prison tree nurseries supplying government planting schemes to Community Payback teams delivering habitat restoration, justice already contributes to nature recovery at scale. We welcome this plan and look forward to building on that contribution through the GENP.”
Rosie Hails, Nature, Land & Evidence Director at the National Trust said:
“The government’s plan to drive change for nature through its own estate is a welcome and necessary step. We can only meaningfully tackle the nature crisis if everyone involved in how land is used plays a part - owners, managers, farmers, businesses and communities.
“Publicly owned land offers a real opportunity to show what’s possible. As a member of the National Estate for Nature group, we’re pleased to be working in partnership with government and other landowners to share expertise and restore nature at scale together.”
Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:
“Natural England has worked alongside Defra to establish this influential group of landowners, who have collectively demonstrated great ambition towards national targets for Nature’s recovery.
“Individually they make big contributions, and their combined impact can be huge. Today’s publication of the Government Estate for Nature plan shows the government shares in their ambition.
“Our National Nature Reserves are exemplars of nature recovery and Natural England will continue with its high pace programme of declaring new ones. This will not only benefit Nature but also to support communities and improve our collective resilience to climate change.”
Forestry England Chief Executive Mike Seddon said:
“Forestry England is the country’s biggest land manager and the 254,000 hectares that make up the nation’s forests hold a variety of habitats and an abundance of wildlife.
“Our long-term stewardship of this critical natural asset delivers many public benefits from high-quality timber and nature recovery to improving citizens’ health and wellbeing, and our work contributes to the wider economy.
“We have a strong track record on successful nature recovery projects, working in partnership, such as reintroducing pine martens to the Forest of Dean and white-tailed eagles to the south coast.
“Our wild areas, such as Wild Ennerdale, are places for innovation and we have ambitions to expand them to 38,000 hectares by 2031. We care for almost 70,000 hectares of SSSIs and we want pine marten ranges covering 100,000 hectares of the nation’s forests.”
The Government Estate Nature Plan is part of a collective of plans published by members of the National Estate for Nature, a coalition of major landowners who together manage a tenth of England’s land, including the National Trust, The Crown Estate, the Church Commissioners, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the RSPB.
In publishing these plans, members are demonstrating how they meet the NEN’s collective ambition and minimum standard, through setting out where and what type of land they hold and how they will work to increase or improve important habitats, such as Clinton Devon Estates who are restoring wetlands and creating new woodland.
Examples of targets to boost nature recovery by 2030 include the Church Commissioners aiming to see 80% of farms adopt nature-friendly farming practices and United Utilities planting 1 million trees. The Crown Estate’s new long-term environmental Farm Business Tenancies will support farmers in their aim to transition 15% of farmland to nature recovery, including planting 1,000km of new hedgerows by 2035. Members will continue to work closely together, applying the government’s Land Use Framework principles and participating in Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
By managing land more strategically, the government and NEN partners will help deliver Environment Act targets on biodiversity, water quality and woodland cover, while supporting the UK’s international commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030.
Additional information:
- The Government Estate for Nature plan can be found via this link: Government Estate Nature Plan (GENP) - GOV.UK
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The National Estate for Nature was established in March 2025. Members include government departments and public bodies, private and institutional estates and third-sector organisations. Members’ published plans and the group’s Terms of Reference are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/the-national-estate-for-nature-group
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£4.1 million of seed funding will support ‘lighthouse’ projects on the government estate through to 2030.
- A digital map of the government estate will be published by April 2027.
Case studies of nature recovery on government land
Cockcrow Green Bridge (National Highways)
- Green bridges use vegetated decks to reconnect habitats fragmented by roads and other linear infrastructure. Completed in March 2026, the 30-metre wide Cockcrow green bridge crosses the A3 in Surrey, linking two sections of the internationally designated Thames Basin Heaths, Ockham and Wisley Commons, previously divided by the road. The bridge forms part of a 3.8km corridor of restored lowland heath, enabling heathland specialist species and other wildlife to move safely, expand their range, and strengthen populations, increasing the site’s ecological resilience. As a key element of the M25 Junction 10 improvement project, the bridge, combined with extensive heathland restoration on both sides of the network, is set to deliver significant biodiversity gains alongside major transport upgrades. It also incorporates active travel routes, improving public access to the surrounding landscape.
Outstrays Managed Realignment Scheme (Environment Agency)
- The Outstrays Managed Realignment Scheme has created 250 hectares of new habitat on the Humber Estuary, enabling vital coastal wetlands to flourish. The project will see the development of 175 hectares of intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh and 75 hectares of freshwater grassland, replacing habitat lost as a result of flood and coastal risk management and port development. This large scale restoration boosts biodiversity, supports migratory birds and increases carbon storage. Delivered through a partnership between the Environment Agency, Associated British Ports and JBA Bentley, the scheme demonstrates how coastal engineering can work with nature. The scheme strengthens tidal defences for over 100,000 people and critical infrastructure, supporting regional resilience, whilst delivering significant environmental gains. New paths and bird hides also improve public access, allowing communities to enjoy and engage with this landmark project.