This scheme allows farmers and land managers to get funding to support and improve Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), National Parks and the Broads.
It is part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan and has been developed with AONBs and National Park staff across England. It will remain open until 2025.
Photo by Illiya Vjestica on Unsplash
| Purpose | The programme has been designed to support projects that will: – support nature recovery – mitigate the impacts of climate change – provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage – protect or improve the quality and character of the landscape or place |
| Criteria | Open to all farmers and land managers within an AONB or National Park in England, or the Broads. This includes farmers and land managers from the public, private and charity sectors. You must: – manage all the land included in the application – have control of all the activities you would like to do Common land is eligible for this funding. You can apply as a landowner with sole rights, or as a group of commoners acting together For further advice about whether your land or project is eligible, you can contact your local protected landscape body. For a list of these, with links to contact details click here Your project must consider: – Climate outcomes, such as carbon sequestration or the reduction of flood risk – Nature outcomes, such as increased biodiversity or increasing connectivity between habitats – People outcomes, such as increasing opportunities for people to explore and understand the landscape or become engaged in the management of the landscape through volunteering – Place outcomes, such as the conservation of historic structures and features and the reinforcement of the character of the landscape |
| Funding Levels | You can get up to 100% of the costs of a project, as long as it will not provide you with a commercial gain If the project is something that will provide a commercial gain, then you will receive a proportion of the cost deemed appropriate You can still apply if you’re in another Environmental Land Management scheme, but will not be paid twice for the same work |
| Notable Information | After the agreed end date of your project, you will not be required to maintain natural, cultural and access activities the project created, but you must maintain gates, fences and restored buildings for 5 years from the date of completion Applications for over £10,000 will be assessed by a local assessment panel, featuring representatives from the protected landscape body, Natural England, the farming community and local specialists, and this will take 6-8 weeks |
| How to Apply | The protected landscape body where your project will take place will provide you with an application form |