A fund designed to encourage collaboration and peer-to-peer learning for the protection and enhancement of local landscapes in England is open to new applications.
The seventh round of the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund for farmers and landowners in England is now open.
The £2.5 million fund encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing amongst the farming community. Facilitators are individuals and organisations who can bring farmers, foresters, and other land managers together to improve the local natural environment at a landscape scale. Successful facilitation groups will also offer training, support and advice to potential applicants for agri-environment schemes.
The funds which applicants could receive as a Facilitator will depend on the number of holdings making up their group. They must have a minimum of four holdings and, although they can have unlimited members, only up to a maximum of 80 can be funded.
Applicants can apply for:
- Up to £10,000 per year for activities such as field trips, training sessions, and sampling/testing of soil and plants, plus one-off consumable items such as binoculars and field guides.
- £500 per member to cover costs of administration and management of the group.
To apply, groups must submit plans showing how they will work together and share knowledge to protect and enhance their local environment, in line with their local Countryside Stewardship priorities.
The funding allows facilitators to give advice and share knowledge with land managers on activities such as restoring habitats for wildlife and improving biodiversity, creating woodland, improving air and water quality, or restoring historic environments.
The deadline for applications is 25 January 2023 (23:59 GMT).
How To Apply
The Facilitation Fund is open for 2023 applications. The deadline for applications is 25 January 2023 (23:59 GMT).
Further advice and assistance with submitting an application may be sought directly from the provider.
For more information, visit the UK Government website.