Plans to improve habitats in East

Natural England wants to preserve heathlands in the East

Natural England in the eastern region has called on farmers and land managers to work together to improve key landscapes and habitats.

Through the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) grant, help will be provided to eight key areas in the East of England.

These are in Breckland, the Broads, Chilterns, the Essex coast, Greensand Ridge, north Norfolk coast, north west of Peterborough and the Suffolk coast.

Landowners will be encouraged to co-ordinate their conservation work.

Shaun Thomas, Natural England's regional director, said: "This targeting plan thinks big and we look forward to working with land managers in these areas on this initiative.

"If land managers within the same area undertake similar activities such as wetland restoration, creating skylark plots or maintaining traditional orchards, this will naturally help speed up the recovery of our much-loved landscapes and wildlife."