Funding opportunities for public access on farmland outlined

Farmers can tap into grant funding for allowing better and greater public access across their land.

Schemes in England and Scotland are open to farm businesses that are willing to provide new or easier access opportunities.

Rachel Patch, director at the Guildford office of Strutt & Parker, says the government clearly recognises walking in the countryside as a public good and is willing to make public money available to support it.

See also: How to manage public access on farm and protect your land

Ms Patch suggests that challenges associated with managing public access may mean many landowners might be reluctant to create brand new access routes.

But she advises that it might be worth considering if funding can be used to make improvements that help to resolve or minimise existing access issues. This might include better signage and easier access, encouraging the public to use existing rights of way rather than using unauthorised routes.

“There may also be farmers who can open up new opportunities for diversification by providing improved access to the countryside, creating more footfall through key parts of their farm or estate by a farm shop, café or leisure offering,’’ says Ms Patch.

Farming in Protected Landscapes Scheme (England)

This scheme was launched in July 2021 and is open to all farmers and land managers in England within an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), a National Park or the Broads.

It is not an agri-environment scheme, but designed to complement existing schemes such as Countryside Stewardship.

Funding is available for one-off projects, including those that provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage.

Ms Patch says projects that might attract funding include replacing stiles on public footpaths with gates for easier access.

“Funding has also already been awarded in the New Forest to create alternative access routes for when the ground is particularly wet,’’ she explains.

Applicants can be paid up to 100% of the costs of a project if they don’t stand to make a commercial gain from it.

Minimum and maximum grant levels vary according to different local landscape protection bodies.

The deadline for applications for the first round of the scheme is 31 January 2022, but with the scheme scheduled to run until 2024, there will be other opportunities.

England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

The EWCO opened in June 2021 and offers top-up payments of up to £2,200/ha where woodland creation will provide long-term permissive foot access for the public to enjoy for at least 30 years.

To be eligible, the new woodland must be close to a settlement on land that does not currently have access to it, Ms Patch advises.

Landowners need to advertise that there is access to the site, for example through waymarkers or signage at entry points, and online maps.

The payments are in addition to the funding on offer to plant and establish a new woodland.

The scheme is open all year round.

Agri Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) – Scotland

The AECS has an option for improving public access.

Mary Munro, Strutt & Parker’s head of farming in Scotland, has successfully applied for this scheme on behalf of many clients.

“The scheme has been available for a number of years and offers capital grants to fund the creation of new paths, or carry out improvements to existing paths,’’ she says.

It is funded through the AECS, but has its own separate assessment process so farmers can apply as a standalone scheme.

“Most farmers choose to upgrade a path where people already walk, or occasionally they will create a new path that links with others to create a route for people to follow,’’ says Ms Munro.

Payments are available for fencing alongside paths to prevent walkers from straying.

Payments for new paths range from £18.20 to £28.15/sq metre, depending on the surface material chosen.

Most opt for the semi-bound surface, which pays the higher rate, says Ms Munro. 

A payment of £6.20/sq metre is available for upgrading an already constructed path.

Ms Munro says applicants should technically consult with their local authority to establish whether a new path will require planning permission.

“Most local authorities will say it is fine, but it needs to be checked.’’

Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme 

One of the key objectives of ELMs is to deliver beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment, but there is no mention yet of public access being a part of the options offered through the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Restoring eroded rights of way and creating new ones has, however, been included in a list of potential actions that might attract funding as part of the Landscape Recovery Scheme.