Agricultural and Environmental Grant Schemes

Farming In Protected Landscapes 

Farmers, land managers and other landowners that are located or operate within the Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) can apply for grant funding for projects that link with the Five Year Lincolnshire Wolds AONB Management Plan and can be seen to deliver on Climate, Nature, People and/or Place. Expressions of interest are welcomed with projects to be completed by March ’25.   

Further details can be found on the link & leaflet below:-  https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/our-work/farming-in-protected-landscape-grant

Natural England’s Catchment Sensitive Farming programme 

Natural England staff will provide free, confidential and impartial advice on these matters.  A range of support, including access to grants, is typically offered to help future proof farm businesses, including ensuring compliance with the various regulations, and helping farms to take measures that can often save money in the long run.  There are a range of specialist advisors that can visit individual holdings to provide tailored advice depending upon the location, farm operations and the issues at hand.  

The local team currently include:-

Jo Craig - Northern becks

Collette Tait - The Eau & parts of the Witham

Helen Kirk - Ancholme up to the Trent. 

Phil Gibson - Senior Lead/Regional Coordinator on the CSF programme. 

ELMS 

Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) is the government providing financial incentive or support for landowners to make changes to their land that produce environmental benefits. We’re making sure that there is an offer all farm types, regardless of size, location, ownership or the systems used.

The actions ELMS may pay for cover:

• grassland

• arable land

• permanent crops

• moorland and upland peat

• lowland peat

• woodland, trees and agroforestry

• boundaries

• waterbodies

• wetland habitats

• coastal habitats

• lowland heathland

• heritage

• species recovery and management

• access and engagement

• animal health and welfare

Further information is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-land-managementupdate-how-government-will-pay-for-land-based-environment-and-climate-goodsand-services/environmental-land-management-elm-update-how-government-willpay-for-land-based-environment-and-climate-goods-and-services

DEFRA’s Sustainable Farming Incentive Scheme

The Sustainable Farming Incentive pays you to carry out farming activities in a more environmentally sustainable way so that you can produce food alongside environmental goods and services.

An introduction to the latest Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme can be found on the link below:-

https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2023/09/13/sfi-pinned-post/   

This is now a revised scheme and includes a wider range of options for supporting: soil health; hedgerows; integrated pest management; nutrient management; wildlife on arable and horticultural land; farmland wildlife on pasture; buffer strips; low input grassland; and additional payments for common land and management.  

SFI actions and Countryside Stewardship (CS) options can be combined where the land is eligible and when the work is compatible without duplication.