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Farming In Protected Landscapes

Peak District farmland sunset

What is the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme?

Farming in Protected Landscapes is a dedicated grant programme for farmers and land managers in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The programme is running until March 2025.

It is part of the government’s Agriculture Transition Plan, helping farmers and land managers apply for grants that support projects in the move towards the Environmental Land Management scheme, due in 2024.

In the first two years of the programme, we have awarded £1.65 million to Peak District farmers and land managers, and we have a further £3 million to award before March 2025.

Are you a Peak District farmer looking for new sources of income?

Do you have an idea that could benefit climate, nature, people or place?

If you answered yes, then our Farming in Protected Landscapes team are interested to hear from you. You will find their contact details further down this page.

The Dilks 600x

What support is available and what for?

Through the programme, we award grants for one-off, value for money projects to make improvements in the Peak District that meet at least one of the outcomes in the four themes of nature, climate, people and place:

  • Nature - We are looking for projects that create or restore habitats for important species like curlew, that increase species-rich hay meadows, create wetlands and ponds, or change the grazing to improve biodiversity. We want to support work that increases opportunities for wildlife and enables greater connectivity in the landscape.
  • Climate - We can award grants for projects that mitigate the impacts of climate change – work that helps make the landscape more resilient to climate change. This includes reducing flood risk, reducing the farm’s carbon emissions, sequestering or storing more carbon (or both). Talk to us about your ideas.
  • People - Tying in with the national priority to boost the nation’s health and well-being, grants can support projects that provide more access for people in the countryside, such as creating permissive access routes. It is about enabling more people to explore and understand the landscape, getting closer to nature and cultural heritage, so grants can be given for providing opportunities for diverse audiences and creating experiences through farm visits or volunteering. This could include converting farm buildings, starting a farm shop, providing farm tours and more.
  • Place - This theme is about conserving and enhancing the landscape’s special qualities. Projects will bring out the quality and character of the Peak District – including looking after or interpreting traditional and historic features. We are looking to support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses, which in turn contribute to a more thriving local economy.

Read about some of the most recent projects we’ve supported on the Case Studies 2023 page. These feature a variety of projects including solar powered drinking troughs, creating wildlife corridors, restoring a regionally rare limekiln, building a new hay barn to enable making late-cut, flower-rich hay, rotational grazing, and more.

Nature

Who can apply?

Farming in Protected Landscapes is open to all farmers and land managers - including from the private, public and charity sector - who are in the Peak District National Park, or where the activity on the ground nearby can benefit the National Park in some way.

What Peak District farmers are saying about the programme

"It feels good to get the support we need to bring the land back into better condition. There's nothing finer than hearing curlew when I’m out and about dealing with the cattle." John Elliott, Signings Farm.

"As a farmer and a LAP member it has been great to see so many diverse and wonderful projects supported through the FiPL grant scheme. It's a farmer-led scheme, which is really important to the farming community of the Peak District, so it has been great to see the positive feedback about how simple the process has been and how it has helped support farmers and land managers throughout the National Park to implement sustainable farming practices, increase biodiversity and support rural enterprise." Tom Mills, Bubnell Cliff Farm.

"Collaboration is key to the Peak Farmers Group, run by farmers for farmers. Not only learning from our expert speakers and importantly from one another on topics such as rotational grazing, soil health and the carbon foot print of feed. FiPL funding has, with a simple and straightforward application process, enabled this to happen. We are keen to ensure more farmer led applications to the FiPL programme." Jane Bassett, Peak Farmers Group.

Documents you will need to apply with

Don't be put off by the paperwork! Our Farming in Protected Landscapes team will guide you through the grant application process.

Further information

Contact us

You can contact the Farming in Protected Landscapes team by:

Drop-in at the Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell

Peak District National Park farm advisers are available every Monday from 10am to 2pm at the Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell.

You can get advice without an appointment. Before you come to see us, please remember:

  • Bring as much relevant information as possible.
  • During busy times, you may have to wait for an advisor to become available.

Other information and links

We have produced a range of guidance documents to help you with specific issues, from drystone walling to rabbit-proof fencing. Talk to us if you need more help.

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