Forest of Bowland

What Forest of Bowland does

The Forest of Bowland National Landscape is a statutory protected landscape spanning parts of Lancashire and North Yorkshire in northern England, originally designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1989 and rebranded as a National Landscape in November 2023. The entity is managed by the Forest of Bowland National Landscape Partnership, a public-sector body under the governance of Lancashire County Council with oversight from a Joint Advisory Committee. It is led by a small core team of 8 employees and serves five primary stakeholder segments: visitors and tourists, farmers and landowners, schools and educational groups, local communities and volunteers, and local tourism businesses. The organisation has no commercial revenue model — it is funded through public-sector grants (Lancashire County Council core funding, the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, and external grants such as those from the Lancashire Environmental Fund) and operates as a non-commercial public-good provider.

Its core products and services are a mix of digital platforms and in-person programmes. The flagship digital product is the Discover Bowland mobile app, launched July 2026 on the Outdooractive platform, which provides offline Ordnance Survey mapping, over 100 curated walking/cycling/accessibility routes, Sustainable Tourism Network business listings, and insider tips. The organisation also publishes the annual Discover Bowland Guide, downloadable walking and cycling routes in GPX/PDF formats, and maintains a multi-channel digital presence across Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and a blog. In-person products include the Festival Bowland annual events programme, Champion Species pin badges (14 illustrated badges linked to the Nature Recovery Plan), Dry Stone Walling Taster courses, the Access for All programme (Tramper hire and accessible routes), the Eco Escapes sustainable tourism initiative, and a Community Nature Fund for local conservation projects. Notable technology includes the Gruffalo Spotter augmented reality trail at Gisburn Forest (developed with Nexus Studios and Magic Light Pictures) and the Eyre family heritage assets (Parker family of Browsholme Hall, Lord of Bowland Annual Lecture).

The business model is fundamentally public-sector: grant funding from local and national government, supplemented by modest fee-based income from events (£3-£4.50 per head), training courses (£40 waged, £5 unwaged), and merchandise (Champion Species Badges). The entity does not pursue commercial monetisation of its core services. Its go-to-market leverages partnership marketing with tourism businesses, earned media via the National Association of National Landscapes, and community networks such as Champion Bowland and Friends of Bowland. Quantifiable environmental outcomes include 700+ hectares of hay meadows restored since 2006, 1100 plug plants of scarce species reintroduced at 8 sites, 516 metres of hedge laid by volunteers in 2018/19, and 8 successful hen harrier chicks hatched in 2018 (first successful breeding since 2015).

Name

Forest of Bowland

Legal name

Forest of Bowland National Landscape Partnership

Website

https://forestofbowland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Forest of Bowland National Landscape is a publicly funded protected landscape in Lancashire and North Yorkshire, England, managed by Lancashire County Council. It delivers conservation, visitor services, and rural skills programmes via a mobile app, curated route network, events programme, and grant funding for community nature projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Protected landscape management and conservation services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Native, Pollinator & Drought-Tolerant Garden Installations (HSAIAFAL), Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM)

Keywords

• National landscape management
• Conservation and public access
• Visitor information services
• Sustainable tourism network
• Rural skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Clitheroe (Forest of Bowland area)

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

The Forest of Bowland National Landscape Partnership is a publicly funded protected landscape body that conserves and enhances a designated National Landscape across Lancashire and North Yorkshire while providing public access, outdoor recreation, and educational opportunities. It sells and distributes the Discover Bowland mobile app and printed guide, downloadable walking and cycling routes, Festival Bowland events, Champion Species pin badges, Access for All mobility services, Eco Escapes sustainable tourism partnerships, rural skills courses such as Dry Stone Walling weekends, and the Community Nature Fund grant programme.

Product overview

Forest of Bowland National Landscape operates a digital platform providing visitor services for the protected landscape area spanning Lancashire and North Yorkshire. The core offerings include the Discover Bowland App (mobile application with offline maps and 100+ routes), downloadable Walking and Cycling Routes (available in GPX and PDF formats), the annual Discover Bowland Guide publication, and Festival Bowland events program. Additional products include Champion Species Badges (nature-themed merchandise), Access for All mobility equipment hire (Trampers), Eco Escapes sustainable tourism network, and traditional skills training courses. The organization also administers the Community Nature Fund for local conservation projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Festival Bowland: Annual arts and culture festival celebrating the Forest of Bowland National Landscape.
• Discover Bowland App
• Champion Bowland

Products and services

• Discover Bowland Mobile App A free mobile application providing digital guides to the Forest of Bowland National Landscape with offline Ordnance Survey mapping, over 100 curated walking and cycling routes, local amenity information, insider tips and Sustainable Tourism Network listings for visitors and local communities.
• Walking Routes Downloadable walking routes available in GPX and PDF formats covering the National Landscape from moorland hills to valley riverside walks, curated for visitors and local communities.
• Cycling Routes A network of cycling routes through the National Landscape including Gisburn Forest Cycleway, the Lancashire Cycleway, the Way of the Roses long-distance route and Bowland by Bike routes for road, leisure and mountain biking visitors.
• Discover Bowland Guide Official annual printed and PDF guide to the Forest of Bowland National Landscape featuring inspiration for walkers, local food stops, stargazing tips, seasonal wildlife information and Festival Bowland events.
• Festival Bowland Events Programme Annual festival programme of wildlife walks, stargazing sessions, guided walks, arts and crafts workshops and cultural events celebrating the Forest of Bowland National Landscape.
• Access for All Accessibility initiative providing wheelchair-accessible routes, all-terrain Trampers for hire and inclusive outdoor experiences throughout the National Landscape for visitors with mobility needs.
• Eco Escapes Sustainable Tourism Network Sustainable tourism initiative promoting eco-friendly accommodations and experiences within the National Landscape, delivered in partnership with local accommodation providers, food producers and activity operators.
• Dry Stone Walling Taster Weekend Practical two-day course teaching traditional dry stone walling techniques led by a Master Craftsman, based near Slaidburn village within the National Landscape.
• Champion Species Pin Badges Series of 14 illustrated pin badges linked to Bowland's Nature Recovery Plan featuring local species such as hen harrier and curlew, produced by Salt Marsh Studios and sold to support conservation engagement.
• Community Nature Fund Grant funding programme supporting community nature projects within the Forest of Bowland National Landscape.
• Dark Sky Friendly Accommodation Network Network of 13 quality accommodation providers designated as Dark Sky Friendly Businesses, offering stargazing-ready accommodation within the National Landscape.
• Discover Bowland Guide 2026 Print and PDF Edition Print and PDF edition of the Discover Bowland Guide 2026 distributed via Tourist Information Centres and online for visitors and residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700+ hectares of hay meadow restored since 2006
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OutdooractivecoreTechnology or Integration · 7 July 2026Outdooractive provided the technology platform for the Discover Bowland app, enabling delivery of high-quality digital experiences for visitors and residents with trusted local content, offline OS mapping, over 100 route guides, and integrated business listings. Craig Wareham, Global Director B2C & UK CEO at Outdooractive, stated the partnership supports sustainability, visitor engagement, and responsible destination management goals.
• Yorkshire Dales charityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025A Yorkshire Dales charity extended its support for woodlands in the Forest of Bowland, providing additional resources for tree planting and woodland management in the National Landscape.
• Lancashire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2025As the governing local authority, Lancashire County Council manages the Forest of Bowland National Landscape through its Joint Advisory Committee, provides core funding, hosts the National Landscape team, and operates the website and social media channels. Copyright for the website is held by Lancashire County Council.
• National Association of National LandscapescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025The Forest of Bowland National Landscape is one of six 'Hub' locations showcasing new artistic works in the national Nature Calling programme, co-developed with the National Association of National Landscapes and Arts Council England. The programme brings contemporary art into protected landscapes.
• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2022Arts Council England signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (now National Landscapes), supporting the Nature Calling programme and artistic works in protected landscapes including the Forest of Bowland.
• Lancashire Resilience ForumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 March 2020The Lancashire Resilience Forum (@LancsResilience) coordinated COVID-19 response communications alongside the National Landscape during the 2020 pandemic, providing guidance on staying safe and supporting local communities.
• Kew Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2020Kew Millennium Seed Bank was commissioned to produce approximately 1000 plug plants from locally sourced seed of four scarce species (bird's-eye primrose, globe flower, melancholy thistle, saw-wort) for the Hay Time Rescue project, contributing expertise in seed drying, testing, and propagation processes.
• Ancient Tree ForumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2019The Ancient Tree Forum, led by Ted Green MBE (founder, Royal Forestry Society Gold Medal recipient 2017), delivered the Our Landmark Trees lecture in Bowland as part of Festival Bowland. Ted Green introduced the concept of working trees in the Bowland landscape, supporting the Landmark Trees campaign managed by Champion Bowland CIO.
• Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 201814-month 'Hay Time Rescue' partnership funded jointly by YDMT and Lancashire Environmental Fund, engaging local volunteers and Kew Millennium Seed Bank to propagate and reintroduce rare wildflowers (melancholy thistle, globe flower, bird's-eye primrose, saw-wort) into hay meadows across the National Landscape. YDMT and the National Landscape have restored wildflowers to over 700 hectares since 2006.
• Ribble Rivers TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2018Ribble Rivers Trust led events in the National Landscape including river wildlife surveys and guided walks, contributing to the River Life Together photo competition and the Three Counties, One River catchment initiative.
• RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2018RSPB wardens monitored two hen harrier nests on the United Utilities Bowland Estate in 2018, discovering eight healthy chicks. The RSPB works in partnership with United Utilities and their tenants to give hen harriers the best chance to breed successfully. The National Landscape works closely with the RSPB on bird conservation, moorland walks, and hen harrier protection.
• United UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2018United Utilities Bowland Estate hosts hen harrier nesting sites monitored by RSPB wardens, with a male hen harrier successfully raising eight chicks across two nests in 2018. United Utilities works in partnership with the RSPB and National Landscape to protect and conserve birds of prey.
• Parker Family of Browsholme HallminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2017The Parker family (Bowbearers of Bowland, descended from Peter de Alcancotes c.1250) host the annual Lord of Bowland Lecture at Browsholme Hall's Tithe Barn. The 7th Annual Lecture in 2017 was given by Robert Parker on six centuries of Parker family and forest history. The family has had a great influence on the history of Bowland and the Hodder Valley since 1157.
• Lune Rivers TrustminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2017The Lune Rivers Trust undertook tree-planting at Keasden Beck as part of natural flood management demonstration projects, referenced in the Farmer's Slow the Flow Workshop hosted by the National Landscape.
• United UtilitiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2017United Utilities Catchment Controller David Oyston guided the Stocks Circular Walk around Lancashire's largest reservoir (Stocks Reservoir, constructed in the early 19th century on the site of the former village of Stocks), providing historical, wildlife, and landscape interpretation for National Landscape visitors.
• Electricity North WestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2017Electricity North West invested nearly £300,000 to underground 2.6km of overhead power lines and 35 poles between Crimpton and Ing Barn in the National Landscape. The scheme is part of Electricity North West's £9m commitment to undergrounding power lines in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks across the North West, significantly enhancing local and wider landscape views.
• Forestry Commission EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2017Forestry Commission England partnered with Magic Light Pictures to bring The Gruffalo Spotter augmented reality trail to Gisburn Forest (one of 26 forests in England). The trail runs from 24 February to December 2017, inviting families to follow an interactive trail tracking Gruffalo characters based on Julia Donaldson's bestselling picture book.
• Magic Light PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2017Magic Light Pictures developed The Gruffalo Spotter app in partnership with Forestry Commission England, bringing augmented reality Gruffalo characters to Gisburn Forest through a free app designed for exclusive use at 26 forests across England.
• Nexus StudioscoreTechnology or Integration · 20 February 2017Nexus Studios developed and animated The Gruffalo Spotter augmented reality app for Forestry Commission England and Magic Light Pictures. The app uses augmented reality to bring 3D Gruffalo character animations to life in the forest, works in all weather conditions, and is available free from App Store, Google Play, and Amazon with no in-app purchases.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lake District National Park Authority: Larger, more established northern-England protected landscape with overlapping visitor economy, dark-skies work, and upland conservation themes; functions as a broader-incumbent reference point for visitor scale and digital infrastructure investment.

Direct peers

• Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: Manages the adjacent Yorkshire Dales National Park/former AONB (renamed National Landscape in 2023) with overlapping Lancashire/North Yorkshire geography, a comparable digital visitor engagement approach, and shared joint initiatives such as the Hay Time partnership with Forest of Bowland.
• Howardian Hills National Landscape (formerly AONB): North Yorkshire National Landscape sharing the same county footprint as the Forest of Bowland North Yorkshire section; runs comparable statutory conservation, walking-route curation, and community engagement programmes.
• Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape (formerly AONB): Lancashire/Cumbria-designated National Landscape with comparable size, partnership governance, conservation programmes, and visitor engagement scope; directly comparable statutory and operational model.
• North Pennines National Landscape (formerly AONB): Northern England's largest AONB/National Landscape, with closely analogous upland conservation (hen harrier habitat, hay meadows), dark-skies designation, and partnership-driven visitor programming.
• Nidderdale National Landscape (formerly Nidderdale AONB): Another North Yorkshire-designated National Landscape with very similar protected-area management responsibilities, volunteer networks, and visitor-information services, operating on the same statutory framework as Forest of Bowland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forestofbowland
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCw-ouN2ZeLuN423_YajI4Kg
• Facebookfacebook.com/forestofbowlandnl
• Instagraminstagram.com/forestofbowlandnl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-of-bowland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forest of Bowland