Announcing the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme

The programme, which has been developed with the support of a group of AONB and National Park staff from across the country, is open to all farmers and land managers within an AONB or National Park in England, or the Norfolk Broads.

What the programme will pay for 

Farming in Protected Landscapes is a programme of funding for one-off projects, not an agri-environment scheme. It will support farmers and land managers 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 its cultural heritage
• support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses

For example, the programme might support:

• promoting connectivity between habitats
• replacing stiles with gates on public footpaths, to promote easier access
• conserving historic features on a farm, such as lime kilns or lead mining heritage
• supporting a locally branded food initiative that promotes the links between the product and the landscape in which it is produced
• action to reduce carbon emissions on a farm
• gathering data and evidence to help inform conservation and farming practice

How to apply 

The Chilterns Conservation Board is pleased to be administering the programme in the Chilterns. Please contact us to request an application form or visit the Farming in Protected Landscapes webpage for more information.

Applications can be made between 1 July 2021 and 31 January 2022 for funding in the first year of the programme. We will award funding to successful applicants at any time between July and January, so you should submit your application as soon as it is ready.

We will also consider applications for funding in the second year of the programme, especially if you aim to begin early in the financial year. Multi-year awards are possible for longer projects, but all projects must end by March 2024.

Before you apply, please discuss your project with us. We might want to visit the location of your planned project to discuss your ideas.

The bigger picture 

Farming in Protected Landscapes is a programme of funding that is part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan. It will work alongside – not in competition with – Defra’s existing and new schemes, adding value where it is most needed.

Farmers who are taking part in 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, we expect that these three schemes (the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery scheme and Landscape Recovery scheme) will play an important role in our Protected Landscapes.