Funding for Farming in Protected Landscapes
Defra has launched a new Farming in Protected Landscapes programme to support farmers and land managers through the Government’s Agricultural Transition Plan over the next three years. Included in the programme is funding to support projects that deliver 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.
The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme, part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan, has been developed by Defra with the support of a group of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Park staff from across the country. The programme will run from July 2021 to March 2024. In the Blackdown Hills AONB, we will be awarding approximately £240k this financial year (2021/22) with more funding available up until the end of March 2024.
The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan set a bold ambition for this generation to be the first in history to leave the environment in a better state than it found it, and the Landscapes Review undertaken in support of the Plan called on England’s AONBs and National Parks to be at the forefront of delivering on these ambitions.
The Blackdown Hills AONB is a special and unique place – a living, working landscape that also supports a huge range of habitats and species. It is enjoyed by local people and visitors alike. The Blackdown Hills remains an ancient landscape of small villages and farms, deep valleys and high hedges shaped by its unique geology. Its wildlife is thriving and its heritage conserved thanks to sympathetic management that is keeping alive traditional skills. Vibrant, diverse communities, with a strong sense of identity, live and work sustainably, supporting the local economy and conserving and enhancing the area’s rich resources for future generations.
By supporting the farmers, land managers and people who live and work in these areas, we can help protect this special place and support local communities.
We are currently in the process of recruiting a farmer engagement officer who will co-ordinate the scheme in the Blackdown Hills AONB and look forward to making this exciting new programme a reality.
Find out more about the new Farming in Protected Landscapes programme in the Blackdown Hills AONB.
Read Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes blog post