Three-year funding boost for nature-friendly land management

We’re delighted to share that the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme has been extended for three years, securing important funding opportunities for farmers and land managers across National Landscapes until 2029.

The announcement was made by the Environment Secretary, Emma Reynolds MP, at the Oxford Farming Conference on Thursday 8 January. Since its launch in 2021, FiPL has supported more than 11,000 farmers across 44 protected landscapes.

Here on the Norfolk Coast, we’ve awarded £1,012,538 to 68 projects, helping local farmers and land managers to enhance the local environment, reduce the effects of climate change, protect cultural heritage and improve public access across our National Landscape.

From building more accessible, long-lasting boardwalks to creating habitats for wild bees and restoring an Iron Age fort, FiPL funding has supported a wide range of projects along our coast. We even worked with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service to use drones to address the growing risk of wildfires linked to climate change. Fire crews can now identify and manage wildfire outbreaks more quickly and effectively, helping to protect people, wildlife and the landscape from further damage.

Many of the projects we’ve funded have multiple benefits for both people and the environment. The community orchard at Thornham Jubilee Meadow is a great example. With 250 apple trees planted, including both cooking and eating varieties, locals now have better access to nature and are free to pick the apples when they are in season. The orchard also creates an ideal habitat for birds and small mammals, boosting biodiversity in the area.

We’d like to thank Defra for continuing the FiPL programme and our FiPL team for their work in helping farmers and land managers to access grants on our Norfolk Coast. We are excited to see what the next three years of FiPL will bring.