Increase in Funding for Farmers in AONB and National Parks

The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) fund is still available to farmers and land managers in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks.  Funding is available for tailor made projects along the themes of climate, nature, people and place for those in protected areas.  The scheme initially opened for three years in 2021 but has since been extended by a year to March 2025 with a large increase in budget expected for the fund in the 2024 financial year.

Proposed projects must compliment some or all of the fund themes by mitigating climate change, supporting the natural environment, benefiting local people and ensuring the landscape is protected.  Up to 100% of costs can be covered by the fund, for projects where the farming business will benefit commercially the payment will be proportional depending on the financial gain from the project.   Proposals that are worth less than £10,000 will be assessed by a member of the protected landscape body whilst projects exceeding this threshold will be assessed by a local assessment panel.  For FIPL projects including items that can be funded by Countryside Stewardship (CS) the items will be paid at the equivalent rate to CS.

As the fund has been running for several years there is a good set of example projects that have got funding from FIPL, these include the following.

• Livestock handling facilities, fencing and water systems to encourage conservation and mob grazing.
• Infrastructure to add value including game larders, flour mills, items for a farm shop, ice cream making facilities.
• Infrastructure for farm diversification including composting loos for a campsite and a trailer for transporting people.
• Dry stone wall restoration, pond creation, tree and hedge planting.
• Brush harvesters, weed wipers and scrub clearance to help restore permanent grassland.
• Carbon audits and planning to identify carbon mitigation and sequestration opportunities.
• Polytunnels for vegetable growing.
• Drills to drill companion crops and a bale unroller.

If you would like further information on FIPL and other environmental opportunities, contact Tom Malleson on 07496 760242 or e-mail tommalleson@fcgagric.com