Farmers offered Glastir grants of up to £5,000 in Wales
© FLPA/John Eveson/REX/Shutterstock Farmers and landowners in Wales are being offered the chance to apply for government-backed schemes to tackle climate change and improve water management and biodiversity.
The £1.5m Glastir small grants scheme will provide funds of up to £5,000 per individual business for capital works to reduce carbon emissions, improve water quality, reduce flood risks and increase Wales’ native biodiversity.
The first window to apply for the scheme, open from the 27 June to 29 July, concentrates on proposals for works to help lock up carbon such as tree or hedgerow planting.
See also: New minister keen to get to grips with farming brief in Wales
Welsh farm minister Lesley Griffiths announced the opening of the scheme window at the Farmers Union Wales’ (FUW) annual general meeting.
She said: “The Glastir small grants scheme will concentrate on measures which help to lock up carbon. This includes funding for projects such as small woodland planting, tree planting and hedgerow creation and restoration.
“Farming and the environment go hand in hand and I am pleased my new portfolio brings together these vital issues.”
Farmers and landowners are asked to submit applications for eligible capital projects, which will be chosen as part of a competitive selection process.
“Land managers and farming businesses can benefit from a maximum funding of up to £5,000 for capital works subject to selection,” explained Kathryn Lewis of Davis Meade Property Consultants at Oswestry.
“If you wish to be considered for Glastir small grants, you will need to submit an expression of interest, which is only available online via the Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online facility.”
If you are not yet registered with RPW Online and do not have an activation code call the customer contact centre on 0300 062 5004 as soon as possible.
For further details including guidance on completing your expressions of interest online visit RPW Online.
Glastir small grants are funded through the Welsh government and the European Commission to form part of the Welsh government rural communities – Rural Development Programme for Wales for 2014-20.