Farming In Protected Landscapes (England only)

The DEFRA-funded ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ programme is open for applications in England. Here we explain what the programme can support and how it works.

The Wye Valley National Landscape is one of England’s 44 Protected Landscapes – our National Parks and National Landscapes. These are the nation’s most special and unique places, which are living, working landscapes that also support a huge range of habitats and species, and they are enjoyed by millions of people every year. By supporting the farmers, land managers and people who live and work in these areas, we can help protect these outstanding places and support local communities.

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, which runs until March 2025 offers support for 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 cultural heritage, or support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses. This is a DEFRA programme of funding for one-off projects covering these areas of work, announced in DEFRA’s Agricultural Transition Plan, but it is not an agri-environment scheme.

Eligibility

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers (including from the private, public and charity sector) in the English part of the Wye Valley National Landscape – or where the majority of the benefit is within the National Landscape in Herefordshire & Gloucestershire.

Applicants must manage all the land included in the application, and have control of all the proposed activities, or you must 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 acting together.

More details on eligibility is included in the Annex F – Guidance for Applicants Wye Valley National Landscape.

You can see the Wye Valley National Landscape boundary – as an image on our webpage here, or on Google Maps here or in more detail by visiting the DEFRA MAGIC mapping website: click on ‘designations’ + ‘statutory’ + ‘land-based designations’ + ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty England.’  

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 (see ‘Application assessment’ below), 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 objectives of the Wye Valley AONB Management Plan 2021-26. For example, the programme might support:

• Re-wiggling a straightened watercourse, for the biodiversity and natural flood management benefits this can bring
• Replacing stiles with gates on public footpaths to promote easier access
• Restoring drystone walls across a landholding
• Creating wader scrapes, or creating ponds to support a variety of wildlife
• Promoting connectivity between habitats
• Creating and promoting a series of farm walks across a cluster of farms, providing new access opportunities, links to the rights of way network and interpretation of farming and of the natural and historic features on the land
• Conserving historic features on a farm, such as lime kilns, quarrying or mining heritage
• Parking improvements at a key site provide safe access to popular walking routes and reduces congestion for visitors and for local residents
• A pop-up camping facility, alongside the provision of new walking trails and on site activities, including e.g. stargazing and dawn chorus walks
• Supporting a locally-branded food initiative which promotes the links between the product and the landscape in which it is produced
• Re-wilding an area of land and promoting natural processes
• Action to reduce carbon emissions on a farm
• Whole farm planning for conservation, energy efficiency and economic resilience, including in farmer clusters
• Gathering data and evidence to help inform conservation and farming practice
• Accessing farm business advice
• Working with new audiences to enable them to experience the Protected Landscape

Payment rates

The Programme will work alongside – not in competition with – DEFRA’s existing and new schemes, adding value where it is most needed. If a potential project can be rewarded through those schemes instead, you will be made aware of them.

If an activity is equivalent to one under Countryside Stewardship (CS), the activity can be undertaken in isolation, but the Programme payment rate will be the same as the CS rate. If not, we will base Programme funding offers on the projected costs of an activity (with final payments made against evidenced costs).

Maintenance agreements

Capital infrastructure assets (including, but not limited to, fences, gates, building restoration), should be maintained for at least 5 years from the date of completion.  More detail on this can be found in the Guidance.

How to apply

Before applying, please contact Anna Stankiewicz, Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer on 07496487645 or farming@wyevalleyaonb.org.uk to discuss your proposal. Anna may want to meet you to discuss your ideas and/or visit your potential project location and can then provide you with an application form. Multi-year awards are possible for longer projects, but all projects must end by March 2025.

We can help you complete your application form. You should submit your application as soon as it is ready.

Annex F – Guidance for Applicants Wye Valley National Landscape

Application assessment

Applications for over £5,000 will be judged by the Local Assessment Panel, made up of representatives from the local farming and land management community, local specialists, Natural England and the Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee (JAC). 

Applications for less than £5,000 will be decided upon by the Wye Valley National Landscapes Manager or a senior member of the National Landscapes Team who has no prior knowledge of the project.

Projects Supported under the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme

In line with Defra guidance we are required to publish details of schemes supported through FiPL, demonstrating the excellent work being delivered through this programme.

Local projects supported with FiPL funding

Year 1 National FiPL case studies

Year 2 National FiPL case studies