The Forest of Bowland National Landscape spans a truly rural 803 km² of uplands, peatlands and grasslands, offering corporates meaningful opportunities to invest in large-scale nature recovery, peatland restoration, community-driven habitat enhancement and climate adaptation.
Its internationally important biodiversity and living cultural heritage are ideal for ESG, biodiversity net gain, and sustainable business partnerships.
Open the drop-down box for a quick overview of the assets and opportunities in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape:
In a nutshell...
Size: 80,300 ha
Population: ~16,000
Natural capital assets:
- Peatland & blanket bog
- Moorland and heathland
- River corridors and wetlands
- Farmland with meadows
- Ancient woodlands
- Cultural and archaeological heritage
Governance: The National Landscape team works collaboratively with landowners, farmers, conservation groups, local councils, and community stakeholders to ensure inclusive delivery and scalable impact.
Welcome to the Forest of Bowland National Landscape
The Forest of Bowland National Landscape is one of England’s most distinctive protected landscapes: a sweeping mosaic of heather moorland, extensive blanket bog, rivers, woodland cloughs and traditional farmland that stretches across rural Lancashire and North Yorkshire. Designated for its outstanding natural beauty, the area supports internationally significant upland bird populations, rare habitats and living cultural landscapes shaped across millennia.
The Forest of Bowland National Landscape Partnership operates through a Joint Advisory Committee and landscape team working collaboratively with local authorities, landowners, farmers, conservation bodies and community groups. Together they implement a strategic Management Plan focused on nature recovery, peatland and heathland restoration, climate resilience, sustainable farming practices, cultural heritage care and community engagement.
For corporate partners, this landscape presents investable, high-impact opportunities across habitat restoration, peatland rewetting and carbon sequestration, species recovery initiatives, regenerative agriculture, natural flood management, and community-linked environmental programmes, all of which directly support ESG commitments, natural capital outcomes and regional wellbeing objectives.
Natural capital assets and opportunities
Here are some of the key natural assets and opportunities:
Peatlands & Blanket Bog: Approximately 14 % of the landscape is blanket bog, vital for carbon storage, water regulation and biodiversity.
Heather Moorland & Upland Heath: Large tracts of upland heath and heather moor support priority bird species and enhance landscape connectivity.
Woodland Cloughs & Meadow Habitats: Semi-natural woodlands, rushy pastures and species-rich grasslands contribute to habitat diversity and ecological resilience.
River Corridors & Water Services: The headwaters of several rivers provide water quality benefits and natural flood management functions.
Cultural Heritage & Rural Land-use: Historic villages, pasture systems, dry-stone walls and farmsteads reinforce cultural landscape value and community identity.
