New grants on offer for farmers in protected landscapes
Farmers and land managers in a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) now have access to a new source of grant funding that could pay 100% of the costs of a range of one-off projects.
The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is offering funding for projects that will:
- Help to mitigate the impact of climate change.
- Stimulate nature recovery.
- Provide opportunities for people to enjoy the landscape.
- Enhance a place, including through the creation of more resilient, nature-friendly farming businesses.
Examples of the type of works that might fit these objectives include creating scrapes, ponds or other wetland to support a variety of wildlife; providing new or easier access opportunities; restoring drystone walls or hedges; conserving historic features on a farm or taking action to reduce carbon emissions or the use of plastics.
Successful applicants who will make no commercial gain from a project, will be eligible for a grant covering 100% of the costs.
Those who will benefit from the application commercially, will be offered a percentage of the costs – generally 40% to 80%.
Applications for anyone seeking funding for a project costing £5,000 or less will be assessed by a local project officer. Anything over that level will be assessed by a Local Assessment Panel made up of local stakeholders.
Application forms are available from the local landscape protection body where the proposed project will take place and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme closes in 2024.
Defra has said that, as far as is possible, it will look to ensure that anyone who receives funding for a project under the programme will not be unfairly disadvantaged from applying for other environmental land management schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery or Landscape Recovery Schemes.
The Farming in Protected Landscapes grant will run until April 2024.To find out more about the Farming in Projected Landscapes grants scheme contact your local Strutt & Parker office.
