Forming part of its Agricultural Transition Plan, Defra has announced the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme which will offer funding to farmers and land managers in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), National Parks and the Broads.
The programme will fund projects that:
- Support nature recovery.
- Mitigate the impacts of climate change.
- Provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage.
- Support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses.
Applicants could get up to 100% of the costs of a project if they will not make a commercial gain through it. Those benefitting commercially from a project will receive a proportion of the costs, depending on how much the project will benefit the business.
Applications for over £5,000 will be judged by a local assessment panel. Applications for less than £5,000 will be scored by a senior member of the team who has not been involved in or provided advice to the application.
The programme is open to all farmers and land managers within an AONB or National Park in England, or the Broads. To be eligible, the projects must benefit the protected landscape, or the protected landscape body’s objectives or partnership initiatives.
How To Apply
The scheme will run from July 2021 to March 2024.
Applications are accepted between 1 July 2021 and 31 January 2022 for funding in the first year of the programme. Protected landscape bodies will award funding to successful applicants at any time between July 2021 and January 2022, so applicants should submit their application as soon as it is ready.
Protected landscape bodies will also consider applications for funding in the second year of the programme, especially if they aim to begin early in the financial year.
Multi-year awards are possible for longer projects. All projects must end by March 2024.
Applications are made online at the programme website.
Useful documents & links
Useful Links
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR