Farming in Protected Landscapes
The Defra-funded Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Programme opened for applications in July 2021 and runs through to March 2025. Find out about how the Programme can benefit the Northumberland National Park farming and land management community, and advice on creating a strong application, below.
Protected Landscapes – our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – are special and unique places. They 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 exceptional places and support local communities.
To help do this, Defra has introduced the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme, which runs from July 2021 to March 2025.
We are welcoming applications for Year 3 funding.
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, 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 Northumberland National Park Authority Management Plan. Details of these objectives can be found here.
For example, the Programme might support:
- Planting new hedgerows for increased biodiversity enhancement
- Creating wader scrapes, or creating ponds to support a variety of wildlife
- Promoting connectivity between habitats
- Restoring or creating priority habitats, including flower rich meadows and wading bird habitat
- 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 or traditional buildings
- Supporting a locally-branded food initiative which promotes the links between the product and the landscape in which it is produced
- 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
- Working with new audiences to enable them to experience the Protected Landscape
To see some examples of projects we have funded so far please click here.
Our Traditional Buildings are a really important part of Northumberland National Park however, due to the timescale and grant allocation constraints, the Northumberland National Park FiPL programme will not be funding any more Feasibility Studies for restoration of traditional buildings.
Farming in Protected Landscapes and other funding sources
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 another Defra scheme instead, you will be made aware of them.
If you are looking for support for boundary works, including dry stone walling and hedging, please look at the Capital Only Scheme.
If you are looking for support with Catchment Sensitive Farming (yard) works you will need to seek advice from the NE’s Catchment Sensitive Farming team. Information on how to seek that advice can be found here.
Large scale tree planting may be best delivered through Forestry Commission funding including the England Woodland Creation Offer. If you would like to discuss farm woodland creation within Northumberland National Park then please contact the farming team for some advice on next steps for your project.