Thank you for your interest in Farming in Protected Landscapes. Following the latest Local Assessment Panel meeting in October 2024, most of the available funding for this financial year has been allocated. This means we have very limited funds remaining for new projects.
We are therefore keen to hear from potential new applicants, particularly those who have not received funding before, who have ideas for projects that can be completed by February 2025.
Eligibility
The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme is open to all farmers and land managers in Cranborne Chase National Landscape (or where activity can benefit the National Landscape), who plan to carry out a one-off project that support the following outcomes:
- Nature recovery
- Mitigate the impacts of climate change
- Provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and cultural heritage
- Support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses
Further Eligibility Criteria
- 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 FiPL 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 Cranborne Chase National Landscape. It can also support activity on other land where projects can demonstrate benefit to this area. Most of the funding will probably be provided to projects within the National Landscape boundary.
See a detailed boundary of Cranborne Chase National Landscape here:
What will FiPL fund?
The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme will pay for projects that, in the opinion of the Local Assessment Panel (LAP) (see ‘Application assessment’ below) provide value for money and meet at least one of the outcomes listed below, under four themes:
Climate outcomes
Your project should deliver:
- more carbon being stored, sequestered or both
- reduced flood risk
- a 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
- a landscape that’s more resilient to climate change
Nature outcomes
Your project should deliver: 
- a greater area of wildlife-rich habitat
- greater connectivity between habitats
- better management of existing habitats for biodiversity
- increased biodiversity
People outcomes
Your project should deliver:
- more opportunities for people to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape
- more opportunities for diverse audiences to explore, enjoy and understand the landscape
- greater public engagement in land management, for example through volunteering
Place outcomes
Your project should deliver: 
- enhancing or reinforcing the quality and character of the landscape
- historic structures and features being conserved, enhanced or interpreted more effectively
- an increase in the resilience of nature-friendly sustainable farm businesses, which contributes to a more thriving local economy (you must deliver this along with other outcomes)
The programme might fund projects:
- promoting connectivity between habitats
- replacing stiles with gates on public footpaths, for easier access
- conserving historic features on a farm, such as lime kilns or lead mining heritage
- that support a locally branded food initiative, promoting the links between the product and the landscape in which it is produced
- that take action to reduce carbon emissions on a farm
- gathering data and evidence to help inform conservation and farming practice
Your project must also help to deliver at least one of the objectives of the Cranborne Chase National Landscape Management Plan.
Payment Rates
If an applicant will not make a commercial gain through a project, they could receive up to 100% of the costs.
Where an applicant would benefit commercially from a project, they could receive between 40% and 80% of the costs through the Programme, depending on how much commercial benefit the project will give them.
The programme will work alongside – not in competition with – Defra’s existing and new schemes, adding value where it is most needed. If a potential project can be rewarded through alternative schemes, you will be made aware of them.
If an activity is equivalent to one under Countryside Stewardship (CS), the programme payment rate will be the same as the CS rate. If not, we will base programme funding offers on the projected costs of an activity (with final payments made against evidenced costs).
Maintenance Agreements
Capital infrastructure assets (including, but not limited to, fences, gates, building restoration), should be maintained for 5 years from the date of completion.
Machinery assets (for example a brush harvester for grassland restoration) should be maintained for 5 years from the date of purchase.
The requirement to maintain natural, cultural and access activities delivered as part of the Programme will cease no later than 1 April 2025.
Enquire or apply for FiPL funding