Farmers and land managers in North Devon have received £700,000 in grants aimed at promoting nature-friendly farming and conservation. This funding comes from the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) program, which has been active in North Devon since 2021, led by the North Devon Coast National Landscape Team and supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The FiPL program helps farmers in protected areas enhance biodiversity, combat climate change, and improve land resilience. Recently, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds announced that the program would be extended nationally until March 2029, a move expected to benefit farmers across the country.
As of now, FiPL has assisted over 11,000 farmers in 44 protected landscapes in England, funding more than 5,500 projects and forming about 100 farm cluster groups. This is part of a broader shift in agriculture towards sustainability under the government’s Agricultural Transition Plan.
In North Devon and Torridge, farmers have accomplished significant work on over 1,000 hectares. Key initiatives include restoring 11 ponds, planting over 2,100 trees, and establishing 115 hectares of wildlife habitats. They’ve also restored 2.6 kilometers of hedgerows and improved public access to the countryside.
One innovative approach involves using GPS collars on cattle. This helps combine conservation grazing with public access, promoting the restoration of coastal ecosystems. Many projects are collaborative, involving neighboring landowners and local schools.
In 2024/25, the program added a Historic Building Restoration Grant, distributing £74,300 for farm building restorations and £38,800 to improve countryside access.
Dr. Eirene Williams, Chair of the FiPL Local Assessment Panel for the North Devon Coast, expressed optimism about the extension: “This is great news for farmers in our coastal areas. Since September 2021, we’ve supported nearly all 65 funding applications in our National Landscape. Despite being one of the smallest, we’ve made considerable progress toward environmental goals.”
This funding not only supports sustainable farming but also contributes to national priorities like biodiversity restoration. Farmers now have long-term certainty to continue their important conservation projects, reinforcing the connection between agriculture and environmental health.
Recent studies suggest that programs like FiPL could play a crucial role in enhancing agricultural resilience amid climate challenges. By empowering local farmers, we may see a ripple effect that benefits both the environment and farming communities for years to come.
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