Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund opens for applications

The most recent round of the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund has opened for applications.

The fund aims to enable landowners and farmers to work together to protect and enhance their local environment.

The fund is part of the Rural Payments Agency’s aim to support agricultural and rural communities and the government's aim to improve the environment.

The funding means facilitators such as farming and nature groups or charities can share advice and knowledge with farmers and land managers on topics such as restoring habitats for wildlife, creating woodland and improving air and water quality.

This is the seventh round of funding and 180 groups have already received funding from the previous rounds. Previous projects that have received funding include demonstration days in timber extraction and wood processing in Morecambe Bay and measures to reduce flooding along the Glenderamackin river in the Lake District.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: "By joining forces on shared environmental ambitions, farmers and landowners are able to deliver a greater positive impact on our landscape than they could ever achieve alone.

"This Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund is already helping to bring farmers and landowners together for the benefit of nature and the environment, and I encourage farming communities across England to consider applying."

The fund aims to support the 25 Year Environmental plan.

Applications are open until 25 January 2023.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay