Get funding for farming in protected landscapes

Question

Accepted Answer

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is a part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan.

It will offer funding to farmers and land managers in National Landscapes (previously known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)), National Parks and the Broads. It is not an agri-environment scheme.

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
protect or improve the quality and character of the landscape or place

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme has been developed by Defra with the support of National Landscape and National Park staff from across England.

This is a competitive programme which will run until March 2025. Applications will close sooner if all funding is allocated.

Who can apply

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers within a National Landscape or National Park in England, or the Broads.

This includes farmers and land managers from the public, private and charity sector.

The programme is also open to farmers and land managers on land outside of protected landscapes.

To be eligible, the project must benefit the protected landscape or the protected landscape body’s objectives, or partnership initiatives.

Contact your local protected landscape body for advice about whether your land or project is eligible.

To apply you must:

manage all the land included in the application
have control of all the activities you would like to do

Or you must have written consent from all parties who manage and control the land.

Other organisations and individuals can apply when collaborating with a farmer or land manager, or in support of a farmer or group of farmers.

Common land is eligible for this funding. You can apply as a landowner with sole rights or as a group of commoners acting together.

Check your land is in a protected landscape

Check if your land is within the boundaries of a protected landscape on the MAGIC mapping website.

What the programme will pay for

The programme will pay for projects that provide value for money and result in at least one climate, nature, people or place outcome.

Your project must also support the priorities of your protected landscape body’s management plan. Contact your local protected landscape team to discuss it with them.

Climate outcomes

Your project should deliver:

more carbon being stored, sequestered or both
reduced flood risk
a better understanding among farmers, land managers and the public as to what different habitats and land uses can deliver for carbon storage and reduced carbon emissions
a landscape that’s more resilient to climate change

Nature outcomes

Your project should deliver:

a greater area of wildlife-rich habitat
greater connectivity between habitats
better management of existing habitats for biodiversity
increased biodiversity

People outcomes

Your project should deliver:

more opportunities for people to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape
more opportunities for diverse audiences to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape
greater public engagement in land management, for example through volunteering

Place outcomes

Your project should deliver:

enhancing or reinforcing the quality and character of the landscape
historic structures and features being conserved, enhanced or interpreted more effectively
an increase in the resilience of nature-friendly sustainable farm businesses, which contributes to a more thriving local economy (you must deliver this along with other outcomes)

The programme might fund projects:

promoting connectivity between habitats
replacing stiles with gates on public footpaths, for easier access
conserving historic features on a farm, such as lime kilns or lead mining heritage
that support a locally branded food initiative, promoting the links between the product and the landscape in which it is produced
that take action to reduce carbon emissions on a farm
gathering data and evidence to help inform conservation and farming practice

How much funding you can get

You could get up to 100% of the costs of a project if you will not make a commercial gain from it.

If you will benefit commercially from a project, then the programme will fund a proportion of the costs. The amount will depend on how much the project will benefit your business.

The programme will work alongside, not in competition with, Defra’s existing and new schemes to add value where it’s most needed. Your protected landscape team will tell you if a potential project can be rewarded through other schemes.

You can still get funding through the programme if you are in an agri-environment scheme, as long as you’re not paid twice for the same work.

If your project is the same as a Countryside Stewardship (CS) activity, you will be paid the same as the CS rate.

If your project is not the same as a CS activity, the protected landscape team will offer funding on the estimated costs.

What you must maintain after the programme

You will not need to maintain any natural, cultural and access activities you deliver as part of the programme after your agreement period ends.

You must maintain capital infrastructure like fences, gates or restored buildings for 5 years from the completion date.

You must maintain machinery assets like brush harvesters for grassland restoration for 5 years from the purchase date.

How to apply

Before you apply, you should discuss your project with the protected landscape body. They might visit the location of your planned project to discuss your ideas.