Farming in Protected Landscapes

There’s good news for the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as a new fund has launched to help farmers and land managers. Farming in Protected Landscapes is a programme of funding for one-off projects, not an agri-environment scheme.

It will support farmers and land managers 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 its cultural heritage
• support nature-friendly, sustainable farm business

Applications for the first year of Programme funding can be made until January 31st 2022. Funding will be awarded to successful applicants throughout the application window, rather than after the window closes, so you should submit your application as soon as it is ready.

For more information on the fund, visit the Chilterns AONB Farming in Protected Landscapes webpage.

Scam-awareness sessions for farming industry

Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards is hosting several Businesses Against Scams online sessions focusing on issues directly relating to the farming industry.

Farmers can be be particularly vulnerable to fraud due to isolation in the workplace and Brexit uncertainty, causing financial loss and stress. 

These free webinars aim to help farmers learn how they can protect themselves from frauds and scams.

See the full list of webinars here.

International Day of Clean Air 2021

The United Nations International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2021 took place on September 7th. The theme for the day was “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet”, which emphasizes the health effects of air pollution, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Case for Local Food Report

A new report has called for government backing for a new Local Food Infrastructure Fund, which is needed to provide strategic support for local, nature-friendly and agroecological food systems.

The Case for Local Food Report, published by the RSPB and Sustain, suggests that a 10% shift of retail market share towards sustainable, local food businesses could create an additional 200,000 jobs, while simultaneously supporting a green economic recovery and restoring nature.

Read the full report and policy recommendations.

LEADER Programme (2015-2021) Evaluation

For many years, the LEADER Programme has delivered grants to support rural businesses, job creation and the overall rural economy. As the current LEADER programme is drawing to a close, Ngage Solutions Ltd has commissioned and completed an evaluation of activity to date.

The full report is here, and it highlights the success of the programme and the value of supporting the rural economy and communities.

With everything that has happened over the past 18 months, the programme and its few remaining projects are still ongoing, with the overall programme being granted an extension until September 2022, should it be required.

If there is anything you would like to discuss regarding this current programme or any future Defra or Rural Payments Agency funding, please contact Will Dallimore, LEADER Programme Manager: william.dallimore@ngagesolutions.co.uk / 01494 927167.