South Downs National Park announces landmark woodland carbon partnership with L&G
- Partnership will create one of the UK’s largest woodland creation projects, targeting over 500 hectares of new woodland in the South Downs National Park.
- The project is expected to remove more than 150,000 tonnes of CO₂e over its lifetime, with L&G investing in a portion of the associated carbon credits.
- The project will also restore habitats, support biodiversity and strengthen landscape resilience.
- The innovative partnership model allows landowners and farmers to access carbon finance and diversify income streams while retaining ownership of their land.
National Parks Partnerships (NPP), the South Downs National Park and L&G have announced a landmark partnership to unlock one of the UK’s largest woodland creation projects using carbon finance.
The project, targeting the creation of over 500 hectares of woodland in South Downs National Park, is expected to remove over 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) over the next 40 years, while also creating new habitats for wildlife, improving ecological connectivity and strengthening landscape resilience for future generations.
The partnership* represents an innovative model for financing nature recovery, bringing together private sector finance, National Park expertise and local stakeholders to deliver long-term environmental outcomes at scale. By combining public woodland grants with early, long-term investment from L&G, the partnership will accelerate woodland creation and generate high‑integrity carbon credits alongside significant biodiversity and societal benefits.
Landowners and farmers sit at the heart of this model. It creates a practical pathway to participate in nature recovery and access carbon finance, while retaining ownership and stewardship and building in the adaptability and resilience needed for a changing future. Their deep understanding of the land they manage and the challenges facing it with the climate and biodiversity crises is integral to identifying the right opportunities for woodland creation that works for both nature, for the farmer and for the forester.
Land managers are already indicating strong interest in participation in the project, as a way to establish woodland in line with their landscape needs alongside sustainable funding.
Through collaboration at a local level, the project reduces risk and offers land managers a straightforward route to engage with the carbon market through a trusted partner. Participants will benefit from a combination of grant funding and additional carbon payments to create and maintain native woodland habitats, supporting the South Downs National Park Authority’s wider ambitions for nature recovery and climate action.
The South Downs Woodland Carbon Project was co-designed by South Downs National Park, National Parks Partnerships and Palladium. Alongside carbon removal, the project will help enhance the South Downs landscape by creating new broadleaf woodland habitat on marginal agricultural land. The new habitat will support local wildlife, improving soil health and build climate resilience in a landscape increasingly threatened by extreme weather.
Holly Story, Head of Nature-based Solutions, National Parks Partnerships, said:
“National Parks are where nature inspires action. This partnership demonstrates how businesses, protected landscapes and landowners can work together to deliver vital action for nature and climate at scale.
“The South Downs Woodland Carbon Project is a powerful example of how private finance can unlock nature recovery while supporting local communities and land managers. We hope it will become a model that can be replicated across National Parks and other protected landscapes around the UK.”
James Winkworth, Director of Growth and Organisational Development at the South Downs National Park Authority, said:
“We want nature everywhere for everyone because nature underpins everything, including our water, soils, food, air and wellbeing. The South Downs National Park has set an ambitious target through ReNature for 33% of the National Park to be managed for nature by 2030. Achieving that ambition requires innovative approaches and new sources of investment. This partnership demonstrates how private finance can support landowners and land managers to create new woodland, restore nature and strengthen landscape resilience while retaining ownership of their land. It is a powerful example of how National Parks, businesses and local communities can work together to deliver nature recovery at scale.”
Carl Moxley, Group Climate Director at Legal & General, said:
“Nature is fundamental to economic resilience and long-term prosperity. Through this partnership, we are investing in a purposeful, high-quality nature-based solution that will help address climate change and biodiversity loss while creating long-term environmental value and societal benefit.
“Our approach demonstrates how long-term investors can contribute to meaningful nature recovery at scale, whilst delivering on our own net zero ambition. We are delighted that this innovative model centres the landowners and farmers who are best placed to understand the benefits and needs of the local landscape.”
The South Downs Woodland Carbon Project forms part of wider action to support nature recovery across the UK’s 15 National Parks and demonstrates how partnerships can help bridge the funding gap required to meet national climate and biodiversity goals.
*This partnership blends public and private finance to unlock woodland creation at scale. Early‑stage woodland planting costs are partly supported by existing woodland grant schemes, helping to reduce upfront risk. L&G then provides additional investment in the early years of each project, bridging the funding gap and enabling projects to proceed sooner and at greater scale.
In return, L&G supports the creation of high‑quality carbon credits developed under the Woodland Carbon Code. These credits help the company progress its science‑based net zero commitments, while also delivering wider environmental benefits, including biodiversity gains, habitat restoration and improved landscape resilience within the UK’s National Parks.