Delivering together for the UK’s 20 National Trails: NTUK’s top 2025 achievements

A year of collaboration and impact

2025 has been a standout year for the National Trails Family. Across the UK’s 20 National Trails, from windswept coastal paths to quiet upland routes, officers, rangers, volunteers, partners and supporters have worked together to keep these iconic long-distance routes open, safe, accessible and thriving for everyone.

As a small charity with a big mission, National Trails UK has been working hard behind the scenes to champion the National Trails nationally, secure vital funding, strengthen our policy voice and build the structures that help the whole network thrive. And all of it, every milestone, has been achieved with you and for you: our members, partners and supporters.

This round-up highlights NTUK’s 2025 achievements: policy wins, organisational milestones, nature recovery projects and other successes across the network.  

Policy and advocacy wins

Dedicated ‘Access for All’ funding for England’s National Trails

One of 2025’s biggest highlights was securing dedicated ‘Access for All’ funding for England’s National Trails. This milestone is a powerful recognition of the Trails’ role in enabling fair and inclusive access to nature. This is a major step forward in building long-term resilience and equitable access across the network.

The Scottish Long-Distance Routes Manifesto

Following months of collaborative workshops and conversations with partners across Scotland, NTUK produced the first-ever Scottish Long-Distance Routes Manifesto. This work marks an important milestone in elevating Scotland’s voice within the network and strengthening NTUK’s position to advocate for the National Trails across all nations. It sets a clear foundation for future advocacy in Scotland and helps ensure national alignment in how our National Trails are supported, understood and championed.

Stronger visibility in national environmental policy

We were pleased to see National Trails referenced in Natural England’s new strategy (read our response here) and the Environmental Improvement Plan (read our response here). Both are clear indicators of increasing recognition at national level. These acknowledgements help strengthen our advocacy position and ensure our National Trails remain part of conversations about nature recovery, public access and landscape-scale action.

Business Plan and Theory of Change

Two significant internal achievements this year were the development of NTUK’s first Business Plan and Theory of Change. Both tools are already proving invaluable in guiding our work, shaping priorities, and communicating our impact clearly and confidently and are playing a central role in how NTUK grows and delivers value for the 20 National Trails.

Strengthening the Charity

Garfield Weston Foundation funding

We were thrilled to secure new funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This is a significant milestone in the development of our young charity and will support us to deliver NTUK’s mission, to strengthen the UK’s 20 National Trails, protect and enhance them and inspire more people to explore them as a gateway to the outdoors.  

Support from Harvey Maps

Another highlight this year was forming a new partnership with Harvey Maps, a highly respected organisation within the outdoor sector. Their support is a testament to the value and potential of NTUK’s work, and we’re excited about future collaboration.

Building NTUK’s capacity: two new senior appointments

2025 also marked an exciting step in National Trails UK’s development with the appointment of our first Senior Communications Manager, Kate Conway and a new Fundraising and Development Manager, Rob Coates. Together, these roles significantly expand the Charity’s ability to champion the National Trails, grow support and secure the resources needed to deliver long-term resilience, nature recovery and access for all. The creation of a dedicated communications function is a first for NTUK and reflects our commitment to raising the national profile of the National Trails.

Nature recovery along the trails

As we come to the end of our second year of funding for the National Trails’ Nature Recovery Programme through the Protected Landscapes Partnership (PLP), we continue to champion the National Trails’ role in nature’s recovery. We also support the trails in creating nature-rich corridors. Key achievements this year include:

National Trails recognised in Local Nature Recovery Strategies

NTUK submitted over 30 consultation responses to England’s Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS). It’s fantastic to see seven of the first ten published LNRSs now explicitly referencing National Trails! Standouts include Kent and Medway which highlight the opportunity of the National Trails supporting “functional networks for wildlife movements and provide opportunities for people to connect with nature” and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly who have embedded the idea of Coastal Wildbelt into their LNRSs.

Supporting 10 Test and Trial projects delivering outcomes for people and nature

By combining funding with Coastal Wildbelt we created a £70,000 funding pot – the NTUK Test and Trial Fund - to support 10 projects delivering outcomes for people and nature along the National Trails. Examples include: reedbed restoration and soundscape interpretation on the King Charles III England Coast Path with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, as well as peatland restoration neighbouring the Pennine Way with the National Trust. Both projects show what can be achieved by our wider partners working together with our National Trails.

National Trails Nature Hub

Thanks to six days pro bono support from Esri UK, we brought our vision of a National Trails Nature Hub to life, something that wouldn’t have been possible with limited staff capacity in our small organisation. The end product is a central resource for nature recovery data, that will help accelerate, monitor and advocate for nature along the trails across the UK. We’re excited to share this with members shortly to test and feedback.

National Trails Menu of Habitat Survey Methods

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure” so this year we took the first steps towards baselining the habitats along the National Trails. We’re working with Plantlife Ltd to develop a Menu of Habitat Surveying options fit for the trails unique linear nature. The menu will be completed by March 2026 and with support from PLP funding will be piloted on three National Trails in summer 2026 to support them in accelerating nature recovery along the corridors.

The Path to Nature Recovery: Durham Heritage Coast

It seems a long time ago but in fact it was this year that we filmed and launched the second edition of ‘The Path to Nature Recovery’ series, focusing on the Durham Coast section of the King Charles III England Coast Path. Through partnering with Durham Heritage Coast, The National Trust, Durham County Council and the Move Durham Seaham Wellbeing Walk we showcased how their Species Survival Fund ‘Coastal Grasslands Reconnected’ project demonstrates the Coastal Wildbelt ethos.

Lessons learned and next steps for 2026

Partnership working is more important than ever. Landowners, funders and experts bring valuable knowledge and support, while National Trails offer key access routes and act as golden threads connecting over 1,000 protected sites for nature across the UK.

In 2026, we’ll carry out the first strategic baselining of habitats across three National Trails and deliver action plans based on the findings. We’ll also expand our National Trail Nature Recovery Special Interest Group meetings to include some in person field trips, bringing people together to learn, explore and make a real difference for nature.

Coastal Wildbelt Programme

Thanks to funding through the PLP, Coastal Wildbelt is growing and starting to take shape. It’s exploring the potential to support organisations working along the coast, helping them bring together the needs of people and the opportunities for nature in a more connected and collaborative way.  

Growing a collective vision

Coastal Wildbelt has refined its purpose, vision, mission and values creating a strong visual identity in partnership with Hemingway Design to launch in early 2026.

Unlocking coastal opportunities

We've seen exciting successes and new opportunities for projects and partnerships to deliver more for people and nature through the shared Coastal Wildbelt vision. This included supporting the tentative UNESCO World Heritage site - East Coast Flyover, contributing to LNRSs and helping develop Investible Proposition pipeline projects for Nature North.

Every step helps us understand more clearly how Coastal Wildbelt adds real value, enabling organisations along the coast to work together, achieve more and create lasing benefits for people and nature.

Building an online presence

You spoke and we're listening! You want more information on the project, its successes, potential and how you can get involved. We’ll be launching a Coastal Wildbelt newsletter in 2026, along with a website to keep supporters informed.

Towards a bigger, better and more joined up 2026

Momentum is building, and it's an exciting time for Coastal Wildbelt! Looking ahead to 2026, we're eager to test our approach for how to deliver the greatest value to coastal organisations and showcase the collective impact of Coastal Wildbelt endorsed projects.

We are working closely with partners all along the coast, to grow a strong, impactful, evidence-driven movement. Together, we’re helping more projects deliver real benefits in more places for people and nature.

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Want to talk to the Coastal Wildbelt Programme Manager? Drop Kate a line on: kate@nationaltrails.uk.

Looking ahead to 2026

The year ahead brings substantial opportunity. We’ll continue championing the needs and priorities of the 20 National Trails, strengthening and supporting National Trail teams on the ground, deepening connections with government departments, and amplifying the national voice of the National Trails across the UK’s protected landscapes.

With clearer strategic pathways, greater collaboration with our members, stronger advocacy foundations, and continued partnerships, 2026 is set to be another year of meaningful progress for the whole National Trails Family.

Together, we achieve more

2025 has shown the power of working as one network, one community one National Trails Family. From policy breakthroughs and new funding to strategic development and on-the-ground action, every achievement reflects our shared ambition and belief in the value of these extraordinary places.

NTUK is proud to champion the 20 National Trails and excited to build on 2025’s momentum with deeper collaboration, stronger advocacy and continued delivery for people, wildlife and landscapes across the UK.

And finally, thank you. For your support, your commitment and everything you do to keep the National Trails open, safe, nature-rich and welcoming for everyone. We couldn’t do this without you.

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