Where Devon meets Cornwall...
At the heart of Devon and Cornwall, the Tamar Valley National Landscape is a special place.
Designated in 1995, the 19,425 hectares of rolling hills and viaduct-lined valleys are just 20 minutes from bustling Plymouth, and home to diverse wildlife and communities.
Unspoilt valley and water landscapes are increasingly rare in the UK – in fact, only two other National Landscapes boast these unique valley systems.
Bordering Dartmoor National Park, the Tamar Valley National Landscape sits within the Tamar Catchment Area. Encompassing Section 10 of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site, 67% of the area is farmed land and 20% is woodland.
You'll also find here:
- 149.94ha in Local Nature Reserves
- 20.23 km² in Sites of Special Scientific Interest
- 14.89 km² of Special Protection Area
- 19.79 km² in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
- A Marine Conservation Zone, and,
- The UK’s first National Marine Park.
The valleys contain a rich mix of landscape patterns and elements.
The estuary landscape is characterised by wide open water traversed by graceful viaducts, fringing woodlands, pastel-coloured houses, ports, and quays.
In the middle valleys, the web of ancient hedge banks above contrasts with the dark woodlands and bright reedbeds below, while twisting lanes weave up and down the valley slopes.
On the granite ridge there is a wholly different, moorland character with rock outcrops interspersed with gorse and bracken, and punctuated by chimneys and other relics of industrial heritage.
The upper Tamar represents an earlier, traditional countryside with remarkable medieval bridges and an ancient pattern of hamlets, farms, fields, and large estates.
The Tamar Valley National Landscape Partnership has produced an ambitious new management plan which will revolutionise the way that protected landscapes prioritise Nature restoration activity, resource and run themselves, suitable for the challenges facing them in the 21st century.
The plan is aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, IUCN Cat V management principles, UNESCO World Heritage Convention management requirements and Natural England State of the Natural Capital Report 2024 priority actions.
The vision
By 2055, Tamar Valley National Landscape has a strong sense of place and wellbeing, as a distinctive and internationally important landscape of high visual quality and a protected green and blue haven where communities and wildlife flourish.
Nature and People are entirely connected, enjoying clear air, clean water, wholesome food, good health and resilience to a changing climate and variable economy.
Tamar Valley National Landscape is a unique and vibrant destination of choice and high value.
A place to be. A place to breathe. A place to thrive.
The strategy
- Champion a Nature-first approach throughout all activities, collaborations, delivery, and partnerships.
- Inspire positive action to adapt to a warmer climate, clean and protect the landscape, decarbonise our communities and restore Nature.
- Secure investment and innovate to deliver at pace and at scale bigger, better, more joined up spaces for Nature.
- Strengthen our Partnership for improved coordination, evidence gathering and collaborative goal-setting for Nature, Climate, Place, and People.
The approach
The Tamar Valley National Landscape is the first in our network to create their own management Doughnut (Doughnut Economics) which allows them to make the most informed decisions and maximise their resources to have the best possible impact on Nature and on people.
Using international, national, and government-endorsed frameworks, they have produced an ambitious and scalable set of aims which take advantage of traditional funding mechanisms and the emerging Nature and green finance markets.
Among the first protected landscapes to do this in the country, they are leading the way in new, purpose-driven approaches to Nature restoration at pace and at scale, that will protect wildlife, people, and places for the long term.
This is a vital blueprint for the rest of the country, and your business could help make it happen.
Lopwell dam, Plymouth (Tobi O'Neill Drone Services)
The opportunity
We are currently developing opportunities for one or more corporate partners to support this industry-leading, innovative approach to landscape-scale, people and Nature-focused recovery.
In order to achieve Tamar Valley’s mission, it requires a minimum total of £3.6m from green finance sources between 2025-30, and £19m from 2030-55.
Along with our partners at Finance Earth, we are seeking the funds to meet that target and resource the development of ecosystem services.
This opportunity has been specifically designed for a collaborative approach with potential partners, allowing for some flexibility and co-design where appropriate.
Interested in hearing more?
Reach out to discuss this exciting opportunity with our team.
