Natural England, the government's advisory body for the natural environment, has earmarked £4m towards the restoration and recovery of nearly 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of wetlands across England.

Funding will be distributed to organisations including the Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), which will work in partnership with the Environment Agency and English Heritage to 're-wet' areas of wetland that have either been lost or degraded. It is hoped that the projects, which coincide with the first anniversary of Natural England's Wetland Vision initiative, will enable rare wildlife and plant species to benefit from the restoration of watery habitats, as well as providing a natural water store to prevent flooding.

Helen Phillips, Natural England chief executive, said: "Wetlands make important contributions to the quality of our lives. They can be important natural flood defences, helping to filter and clean our water supplies; and peat bogs lock up dangerous green house gas emissions which contribute to climate change. "Since 2008, Natural England has allocated £6m to conservation partners who are restoring these important landscapes. From Morecambe Bay to the East Anglian Fens, projects are underway across the country to put the squelch back into the countryside."

Projects to benefit from funding over the next two years include the East Anglian fens, the Somerset Levels and the Morecambe Bay Wetlands.