Farmers and land managers who live in Cranborne Chase National Landscape can now submit enquiries for Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding, for projects which will provide benefits for nature, climate, people and place by March 2026.
Since the FiPL programme was launched by Defra in 2021, Cranborne Chase has awarded over £2 million to enable projects which support local landowners in meeting nature and climate challenges while keeping rural communities sustainable. Following Defra’s recent announcement that FiPL funding will continue until March 2026, Cranborne Chase National Landscape is now encouraging enquiries relating to projects which will support the priorities of its Management Plan and Nature Recovery Plan. FiPL can play a leading role in the delivery of the Nature Recovery Network and achieving the government’s commitment to protect 30% of land by 2030.
The National Landscape would particularly like to hear from prospective applicants who have not previously benefited from FiPL funding. It is also encouraging collaborative projects between farm clusters and multiple farm or land managers from across the landscape.
One of 46 National Landscapes in the UK, Cranborne Chase National Landscape (formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) is conserved and enhanced for the nation’s benefit. Overlapping the boundaries of Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Somerset, 64% of the National Landscape is farmland. FiPL has quickly established itself as a dynamic and successful programme in support of nature friendly farming initiatives, while boosting farming businesses in this deeply rural area.
In Cranborne Chase National Landscape alone, 181 farmers have participated in the FiPL programme, with 672 volunteers engaged. Of these projects, 15 have helped to reduce flood risk while 10 have made the landscape of Cranborne Chase more accessible to visitors. 6,124 metres of permissive paths have been created, improved or better managed. Nine projects have been specifically targeted at recovery of threatened species, including dormice.