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Farming in Protected Landscapes

Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes is a grant programme for supporting farmers, land managers and people who manage land in protected landscapes, like Nidderdale National Landscape. The aim of the programme is to help protect these exceptional places and support local communities.

UPDATE: Rolling application window now in place. You can  submit applications up until the programme closes for applications in 2025.

Read below to find out:

 

About the programme

Through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, farmers and land managers can be supported to carry out projects that:

  • support nature recovery;
  • mitigate the impacts of climate change;
  • provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and
    understand the landscape and cultural heritage; or
  • support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses

 
This is a programme of funding for one-off projects covering these areas of work, not an agri-environment scheme. It will run to March 2025.

Watch our recent presentation on the programme to find out more.

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan. It has been developed by Defra with the support of a group of National Landscape and National Park staff from across the country.

 

Who’s eligible

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers (including from the private, public and charity sector) in Nidderdale National Landscape – or where activity on the ground can bring benefit to the National Landscape.

You must:

  • manage all the land included in the application, and have control of all the
    activities you’d like to undertake; or
  • have written consent from all parties who have this management and control

 
Other organisations and individuals can apply, as long as they do this in collaboration with a farmer or land manager, or in support of a farmer or group of farmers.

Common land is eligible for support through the programme. You can apply as a landowner with sole rights, or as a group of commoners acting together.

The programme supports activity on any land within Nidderdale National Landscape. It can also support activity on other land where projects can demonstrate benefit to Nidderdale National Landscape, or the National Landscape’s objectives or partnership initiatives. Most of the funding will be provided to projects within the Nidderdale National Landscape boundary.

You can see the boundary by visiting the MAGIC mapping website. Click on ‘Designations’, ‘Land-Based Designations’, Statutory’ and then ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (England)’.

We will look to ensure that as far as possible, those who receive funding for a project under Farming in Protected Landscapes are not unfairly disadvantaged from applying for other ELM schemes such as Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery or Landscape Recovery Schemes. 

The guidance for applicants document has more details on eligibility.
 

What the programme will pay for

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme will pay for projects that, in the opinion of the Local Assessment Panel  provide value for money and meet at least one of the outcomes listed below, under four themes.

Climate outcomes

  • More carbon is stored and/or sequestered
  • Flood risk is reduced
  • Farmers, land managers and the public better understand what different habitats and land uses can store carbon and reduce carbon emissions
  • The landscape is more resilient to climate change

 

Nature outcomes

  • There is a greater area of habitat improved for biodiversity
  • There is an increase in biodiversity
  • There is greater connectivity between habitats
  • Existing habitat is better managed

 

People outcomes

  • There are more opportunities for people to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape
  • There are more opportunities for more diverse audiences to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape
  • There is greater public engagement in land management, such as through volunteering
  • Farmers and land managers feel increasingly comfortable with providing public goods

 

Place outcomes

  • The quality and character of the landscape is reinforced or enhanced
  • Historic structures and features are conserved, enhanced or interpreted more effectively
  • There is an increase in farm business resilience

 
Your project must also help to deliver at least one of the objective as outlined starting on page 18 of the Nidderdale AONB Management Plan 2019-2024.

 

Funded projects

View the latest list of projects that have been approved to receive a grant through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme in Nidderdale National Landscape.

To get an idea of the type of projects funded by not take a look at the annual reports which highlight case studies from across the country:

 

How to apply

To apply, please read the guidance for applicants then contact us before you fill in an application form. To give the FiPL team the breakdown of your projects costs, please complete the project costs table.

Applications for the grant scheme can be submitted anytime up until the programme closes for applications in 2025.

Submit your application as soon as it is ready. Applications will be considered and funds awarded to successful applicants throughout this period.

Multi-year awards are also possible for longer projects.

All projects must end by March 2025.
 

Get in touch

Before applying, you can get in touch with us through the form below to discuss your project ideas and application.

You can also get in touch with the Farming in Protected Landscapes team directly.

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    How applications will be assessed

    Applications for over £10,000 will be judged by a Local Assessment Panel.

    Our Local Assessment Panel will be made up of around eight people, including representatives from Nidderdale National Landscape, Natural England, representatives from the farming and land management community, and other conservation specialists.

    We expect that the panel will meet to make decisions around every eight weeks.

    Applications for less than £10,000 will be decided upon by a senior member of the National Landscape team who has no prior knowledge of the project.
     

    Stay up-to-date

    To stay up-to-date on the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme in Nidderdale National Landscape, sign up below to receive our regular Farm Support e-newsletter from our Land Management Team.

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      Photo Credits: 

      Paul Skirrow

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