Get funding for farming in protected landscapes

Farmers and land managers in National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty now have access to a new grant that could pay the full costs of a range of one-off projects. It will pay for projects that provide at least one climate, nature, people, or place outcome.

Between 2021 and 2024 it 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.

Within the South Downs National Park, the project must also help to deliver at least one of the 10 outcomes of the South Downs National Park Partnership Management Plan.

Examples of the type of works that might fit these objectives in the South Downs or the Chichester Harbour AONB include creating scrapes, ponds, or other wetland to support a variety of wildlife, planting native woodland that can capture carbon and benefit the public by allowing to explore and enjoy it, or even support local food producers by promoting the links between the product and the landscape in which it is produced.

Projects that don’t bring commercial gain to the landowner could receive up to 100% funding, ones that do will be offered a percentage of the costs depending on how much it will benefit the business – generally 40% to 80%.

As long as the same work is not paid for twice, Protected Landscape funding will not interfere with agri-environment schemes or Countryside Stewardship. If the project is the same as a Countryside Stewardship activity it will be paid at the CS rate, if it is not the same, the protected landscape team will offer funding on the estimated costs.

Farmers who participate a project funded through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme can also take part in one of the three environmental land management schemes when they open. In the long term, it is anticipated that these schemes (the Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery schemes and the Sustainable Farming Incentive) will play a significant role in the country’s protected landscapes.