Grants available for farms in England’s protected landscapes
© Tea Smart Photography Many farmers and landowners in England do not realise the wide variety of projects that can be funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) programme.
As well as preserving and enhancing the landscapes in national parks and national landscapes (formerly areas of outstanding natural beauty), the scheme can help fund diversification projects which attract visitors and customers to the areas covered.
For example, milk vending machines, farm shops and a microdairy producing ice cream have benefitted from FIPL funding in the Cotswolds National Landscape.
See also: Grant support available to landowners for tree projects
Farming in Protected Landscapes key points
Funding has been extended for one year, with an additional £30m available in England’s 34 national landscapes (which cover 15% of England’s land area) and 10 national parks (10% of the land area)
A wide range of projects is eligible for funding to help farmers manage protected landscapes, support rural economies and protect the environment.
So far, the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) programme has involved more than 7,000 farmers and land managers, and funded more than 4,600 projects.
FIPL’s funding focus is on grants to support projects that:
- Help nature recovery
- Reduce the impacts of climate change
- Protect and enhance cultural heritage
- Improve access to and enjoyment of protected landscapes.
What can the grants be used for?
However, the grants can also help with farming practices such as reseeding to achieve species rich grasslands and providing mob grazing infrastructure.
They can also help with environmental initiatives such as supporting wetland projects, tree and shelter belt planting and the establishment or improvement of wildflower grasslands.
Stone bridge restoration, charcoal and biochar production, and the provision of educational and visitor facilities are also part of the funding mix.
Steph Emerson of the Farm Consultancy Group’s WhiteAvon Consultancy says the FIPL programme deserves wider recognition.
“The FIPL teams are very approachable – they just want to see the programme succeed,” she says, suggesting that anyone with a project in mind should talk to their local national landscape office.
“No matter how small the project might be, it’s worth inquiring.”
A site meeting would usually follow the initial approach and it’s a relatively simple funding application process, says Steph.
Education and public access are important elements for the programme, with facilities, tracks, paths and information boards being funded at up to 100%.
“It’s important to note also that there can be funding for projects on land which is outside the protected landscape but close to its boundary.
“For example, if you can show that a project would have a positive impact on the protected landscape, such as attracting visitors which would bring economic benefits.”
In some cases, FIPL can support projects for which the farmers concerned cannot access grants under other funding streams.
The recent closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) could see FIPL applications for items similar to some SFI options, suggest advisers.
It can also fund projects which those farming in protected landscapes may not be able to access because they do not have a Countryside Stewardship (CS) Higher Tier agreement.
For example, one farm in the Cotswolds national landscape received FIPL funding of £36,500 for five very different projects. These spanned:
- The maintenance of native breeds on the farm (for which a CS Higher Tier supplement is available, but this farm did not have an agreement)
- Educational and volunteer access
- A market garden development of a polytunnel and irrigation equipment
- A small-scale organic garden and a direct sales project, here funding a retail chiller, labeller and scales
- The installation of bird boxes.
North York Moors National Park
In North Yorkshire, the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme has funded a huge range of works on farms in the national park in the past few years.
Many of them had practical farming applications, such as £24,591 to help one farm improve slurry utilisation by buying four slurry bags, a rainwater harvester and a wash-down kit.
On another holding, £67,500 of funding went towards roofing a yard and muck store to reduce run-off.
A further £28,800 helped fund the purchase of a 4m direct drill to assist in the move to regenerative farming on another farm.
Hardcore farm tracks, hedging and dry stone walling, rabbit fencing and water supply are further examples of projects funded, as well as business skills courses for farmers.
Case study: Henry Astor, Bruern Farms, West Oxfordshire
Henry Astor © Bruern Farms
Bruern Farms in West Oxfordshire is in the Cotswolds National Landscape and received Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) funding towards milling equipment to enable flour sales direct to local bakers and retail customers.
This has been a roaring success so far, says owner Henry Astor, with 48t of flour produced last year, expanding to 200t this year and already outgrowing the original milling operation.
Henry is now supplying 40 bakers in the local area with a range of flours, including from heritage grains, and delivers to London once a week.
He has also just signed a three-year contract to supply Gail’s bakery chain, which has 250 shops.
Instead of producing commodity wheat at £160/t, his added-value wheat is now worth £1,400/t.
It has higher proteins and nutritional density than the wheat produced conventionally on the majority of the 688ha farm.
All crops are grown without the use of fungicides or insecticides.
“It’s allowed me to control and develop my own market. I’ve reduced the cropped area and increased biodiversity, and created a whole other business,” says Henry.
“It’s also helped to build a community and connections.”
The Cotswolds National Landscape team helped him with the original FIPL grant application.
He was awarded £32,234 of the £80,595 project cost and has subsequently applied and won FIPL funding towards the cost of a colour grain sorter.
Rapid development
Since taking over from his father in 2017, Henry has rapidly developed the business to change its focus.
As well as the milling operation, it now includes English Longhorn cattle, Saddleback pigs, and chickens.
Sunflowers are pressed for oil, old grain silos have been converted into work spaces and accommodation, there is a market garden, own brand beer is brewed and the farm shop and café have been built.
He also set up the Cotswold Grain network, a group of bakers, farmers, brewers and researchers, to promote heritage and non-commodity grains, with a focus on direct distribution locally.
Henry also helped found the North East Cotswolds Farmer Cluster Group, of more than 125 farms.