Farming in Protected Landscapes

This Defra programme provides funding to farmers and land managers (and others working with them), for projects that:

• Support nature recovery.
• Mitigate the impacts of climate change.
• Provide opportunities for people to engage with the landscape and cultural heritage.
• Support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses.

Protected Landscapes – 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. 

Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) has been a competitive programme with a limited budget and is due to end on 31st March 2025. Our protected landscape has been able to fund a range of projects that support climate, nature, people and place and you can read more about the projects funded so far on our Farming and Land Management page. 

The programme is part of Defra’s Agricultural Transition Plan. It has been developed by Defra with the support of a group of National Landscape and National Park staff from across the country. 

We have now allocated all of our funding to successful projects; however we are still welcoming enquiries for potential projects should future funding become available. We may also be able to help support or advise you applying to one of Defra’s other schemes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme, the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme, or alternative funding sources. If you have a project idea, please get in touch with us to discuss your ideas. 

You can keep up to date with the latest updates to farming schemes and reforms to agricultural policy in England on the Defra farming blog. 

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers (including from the private, public and charity sector) in a National Park, National Landscape or the Norfolk Broads – or where activity on the ground can bring benefit to one or more of those areas. 

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. 

Common land is eligible for support through the programme. You can apply as a landowner with sole rights, or as a group of commoners acting together. 

The programme supports activity on any land within the Northumberland Coast National Landscape. It can also support activity on other land where projects can demonstrate benefit to the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, or our objectives or partnership initiatives. Most of the funding will probably be provided to projects within the National Landscape boundary. 

You can see the boundary by visiting the MAGIC mapping website. Click on ‘designations’, ‘land-based designations’ and then ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty England.’ 

The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme pays for projects that, in the opinion of the Local Assessment Panel (see 'application assessment’ below) provide value for money and meet at least one of the outcomes listed below, under four themes: 

Climate 

• More carbon is stored, sequestered or both.

• Flood risk has been reduced. 

• Better understanding among farmers, land managers and the public as to what different habitats and land uses can deliver for carbon storage and reduced carbon emissions. 

• The landscape is more resilient to climate change. 

Nature 

• There is a greater area of wildlife-rich habitat.

• There is greater connectivity between habitats. 

• Existing habitat is better managed for biodiversity.

• There is an increase in biodiversity.

People outcomes 

• More opportunities for people to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape. 

• More opportunities for more diverse audiences to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape.

• Greater public engagement in land management, for example through volunteering. 

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 the resilience of nature-friendly sustainable farm businesses, which contributes to a more thriving local economy. 

Your project must also help to deliver at least one of the objectives of the Northumberland Coast Management Plan (To help you, the Management Plan objectives are also listed in Annex A of the downloadable guidance for applicants document below). 

For example, the programme might support: 

• Replacing stiles with gates on public footpaths to promote easier access. 

• Restoring drystone walls across a landholding. 

• Creating water scrapes, or creating ponds to support a variety of wildlife. 

• Promoting connectivity between habitats. 

• Conserving historic features on a farm, such as lime kilns. 

• Parking improvements at a key site to provide safe access to popular walking routes and reduce congestion for visitors and local residents. 

• A pop-up camping facility, alongside the provision of new walking trails and on site activities, including eg, stargazing and dawn chorus walks. 

• 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. 

• Gathering data and evidence to help inform conservation and farming practice. 

To apply, you will need to complete an application form and we can help you do this. 

Before applying, we would encourage you to contact us to discuss your application. Ideally, the Farming in Protected Landscapes project officers will visit you to discuss your ideas. 

All projects must be completed by March 2025. 

Applications for over £10,000 will be judged by a Local Assessment Panel (LAP). This is required by Defra to ensure objectivity in decision making and to ensure good value for money.   

The Local Assessment Panel is made up of at least 8 people. It includes representatives from the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, Natural England, representatives from the farming and land management community, and specialists. 

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

Applications for less than £10,000 will be decided upon by a senior member of the National Landscape team (who has no prior knowledge of the project). 

Applications will be scored on: 

Fit with Programme Outcomes – 40% of scoring weighting 

Value for money – 20% 

Sustainability / legacy – 20% 

Deliverability – 20% 

Capital infrastructure assets (including, but not limited to, fences, gates, buildings and building restoration), should be maintained for five years from the date of completion.  

Machinery assets (to deliver conservation work, for example a brush harvester, a weed wiper, a roboflail) should be maintained for five years from the date of purchase. Second-hand machinery is not eligible for funding support. 

The requirement to maintain natural, cultural and access activities (for example, management of grassland, permissive access routes, gates) will be maintained for five years from date of inception.  

To date Northumberland Coast National Landscape have funded 77 projects via the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme. A PDF giving further details of these can be found below.

If you have a question about the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme in the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, please get in touch with our Farming in Protected Landscapes Officers, Mark Middleton and Fiona MacLeod on info@northumberlandcoast-nl.org.uk.