Farmers are in line for financial support from the Government for environmentally-friendly and sustainable food projects.
A total of £15 million initial development funding is available for farmers and land managers who are being encouraged to apply to the Landscape Recovery Scheme.
Successful applicants will receive funding and support for projects to create new habitats for wildlife, help protected sites and boost efforts to reach net zero.
The grants will recognise working in partnership to deliver environmental benefits through protecting and enhancing landscapes in England.
The funding scheme – now in its second phase – will support up to 25 projects which will be administered by Natural England and the Environment Agency.
Eligible projects, of at least 500 hectares, could include creating and enhancing woodland including temperate rainforest, peatland, nature reserves and protected sites such as ancient woodlands, wetlands and salt marshes.
Schemes will be selected based on their environmental and social impact, value for money and general suitability.
A new requirement is that projects take the sustainability of food production into consideration.
Secretary of State for Food and Farming Thérèse Coffey said: “Landscape Recovery is one of our three Environmental Land Management schemes which provide the funding and support for farmers in England through the biggest change in a generation.”
Funding for Landscape Recovery will be provided from the government’s £2.4 billion annual investment into the farming sector.
Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said: “I welcome the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme, which is a key opportunity for farmers and land managers who want to focus more specifically on ambitious land-use change and habitat restoration.”
