Farming in Protected Landscape Programme

The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme

Protected Landscapes – our National Parks and National Landscapes – 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 was launched in July 2021 and will continue until to March 2029.

Through the programme, farmers and land managers can be supported 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 cultural heritage, or 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.

Eligibility

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers, including from the private, public and charity sector in the National Landscape – or where activity on the ground can bring benefit to the National Landscape.

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.

The programme supports activity on any land within the South Devon National Landscape. It can also support activity on other land where projects can demonstrate benefit to the National Landscape or its objectives or National Landscape Partnership initiatives.

You can see the boundary by visiting the Devon County Council Environment Viewer.

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 (see ‘Application assessment’ below) provide value for money and deliver on our 4 themes and National Landscape management plan.

Guiding principles of FiPL projects

Our key aims are to promote nature friendly farming and to do this by working with those who have not yet accessed FiPL funding, to ensure our support is spread across the National Landscape.

All projects must be delivered in a way that will conserve and enhance the special qualities of the area, including historic, cultural and scenic character.

Your project must deliver on at least one of the four themes:

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	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
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	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

Your project must also help to deliver at least one of the objectives of the South Devon National Landscape FiPL Management Plan, shown below, which is a streamlined and more focused version of the full SDNL Management Plan.

local priorities	Focus	Project examples	How they contribute
Climate resilience – For business and environment	Environment	Tree planting	Water retention, shade, carbon sequestration
Climate resilience – For business and environment	Business	reduced reliance on external inputs - fertiliser reduction, pesticide reduction, fuel reduction	Help save businesses money as well as reduce emissions
Habitat creation, enhancement and corridors	Getting protected sites into good condition	Scrub clearance	Removing encroaching scrub to allow wildflowers to thrive
	Joining up habitats	hedges, mosaic habitat	Create corridors and stepping stones for plants and animals to migrate
	Creating new habitat in unproductive areas	Wetland creation, species rich grassland	Using lower grade agricultural land, such as wet or steep areas, to create new habitat
New entrants and the next generation	Supporting diversifications that support extra jobs on farms	Farm shops and butcheries	Create more jobs on the farm as well as creating opportunities for the public to access local food
New entrants and the next generation	new innovative ideas	New technologies or techniques	Reduce the impact of farming and become more environmentally friendly
Water	Improving water quality on farm	Better water management	Using water more efficiently and preventing it becoming ‘dirty water’
	Reducing downstream flooding	Natural Flood Management – leaky dams and wetlands	Slowing the flow of water reduces flash floods and also helps improve water quality
	Improving soil health to reduce nutrient leaching and soil erosion	Creating and managing diverse swards	Deep and diverse rooting systems improve soil structure and organic matter, helping soil stabilise preventing erosion
Cooperative working	Farmer cluster groups	Create new or support existing cluster groups to do joint projects on a larger scale across multiple farms	knowledge exchange machinery and skills sharing
	Community groups	Community gardens and orchards	helping rural communities access food and nature
	Farmers and the public	Selling direct to customers	Opportunities for educating the public on food production, the environment through being able to access local food

Payment rates

The Programme will work alongside Defra’s existing and new schemes, adding value where it is most needed. If a potential project can be rewarded through those schemes instead, you will be made aware of them.

If an activity is equivalent to one under Countryside Stewardship (CS), the Programme payment rate will be the same as the CS rate. If not, we will base Programme funding offers on the projected costs of an activity with final payments made against evidenced costs.

Maintenance agreements

All items or works funded should be maintained for 5 years from project date

How to apply

In the first instance we recommend you refer to the following:

FiPL Guidance for Applicants

Read Only Application Form

South Devon National Landscape Management Plan

Then complete an enquiry form and email to the team; click the Submit an Enquiry button to bring up the form. We will respond within five working days; this may lead to a visit to the project location by an Adviser to discuss your ideas and application further.

For information only: South Devon FiPL Application Form (Year 6, 7, 8)

Funding will be awarded to successful applicants throughout the application window, so you should submit your application as soon as it is ready.

Multi-year awards are possible for longer projects. All projects must end by March 2029

Submit an Enquiry

Application Assessment

The Local Assessment Panel will be made up of 8 to 12 people. It will include representatives from the National Landscape staff Unit, National Landscape Partnership Committee, Natural England, together with local farmers and landowners representatives.

We expect that the panel will meet to make decisions every 6 to 8 weeks.