Farming in Protected Landscapes - East Devon National Landscape

Protected Landscapes – our National Landscapes (formerly called National Landscapes) and National Parks – are special and unique places. By supporting the farmers, land managers and people who live and work in these areas, we can help protect a huge range of habitats and species and support local communities.

To help do this, Defra has introduced the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, which can provide funding (minimum grants of £2,000 up to the maximum of £50,000) for eligible projects in the East Devon National Landscape.

Funding sustainable farming

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers within a National Park or National Landscape in England as part of the Government’s Agricultural Transitional Plan, which sets out how Defra’s support for farmers and land managers is changing over the next few years.

It supports 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

This is a programme of funding for one-off projects covering these areas of work, not an agri-environment scheme.

INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

Eligibility

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers (including from the private, public and charity sector) and can support activity on any land within the East Devon National Landscape.

You can see the East Devon National Landscape (formerly called National Landscape) boundary by visiting the MAGIC mapping website.

It can also support activity on other land where projects can demonstrate benefit to the East Devon National Landscape, or the objectives of the Management Plan for the area. Most of the funding will probably be provided to projects within the East Devon National Landscape boundary.

You must manage all the land included in the application, and have control of all the activities you’d like to undertake, 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 group of commoners acting together.

Successful applications

So far, more than 1000 projects have been approved across the UK.

View case studies of some of the approved East Devon projects below:

Download the leaflet (click image) for further examples of some of the projects that have been funded nationally, what farmers have said about the programme, and how to apply

What the programme will pay for

The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme will pay for projects that provide value for money and meet at least one of the outcomes in the four themes below.

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 the resilience of nature friendly sustainable farm businesses, which in turn contributes to a more thriving local economy

Your project must also help to deliver at least one of the policy priorities of the East Devon National Landscape Partnership Plan.

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 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 store more carbon on a farm
gathering data and evidence to help inform conservation and farming practice

Details of our priorities can be found in the Guidance for Applicants document (see below).

HOW TO APPLY

The grant has a rolling application window.

A Local Assessment Panel will consider applications over £5000. Applications under £5000 will be delegated to the National Landscape Manager. The Local Assessment Panel will meet approximately every 8wks. Successful applications will need to be financially completed by March of each financial year.

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 2025.

To discuss an idea/register your interest prior to application, please contact us as below.

email: info@eastdevon-nl.org.uk

call: 01404 642030

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PROGRAMME FUNDING

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