Hundreds of farmers and landowners will be supported to delivery projects that restore nature, reduce flood risks and boost biodiversity, as Environment Secretary George Eustice announces the successful bids for the Landscape Recovery scheme.
Farmers working to recover coastal farmland in Norfolk, restore meadows and streams in the Cotswolds and create a wildlife rich nature corridor in the River Holme catchment are just three of the 22 ambitious projects receiving funding through the new scheme, implementing the Government's post-Brexit Agricultural Transition plans.
In February, farmers and land managers were invited to apply for funding, and following a competitive application process, Environment Secretary George Eustice today (Friday 2 September) confirmed the 22 selected projects.
All of the successful initiatives have demonstrated that they have pioneering ideas that will improve the rural landscape and reverse the decline in nature.
Collectively, the successful projects aim to restore nearly 700km of rivers and protect and enhance 263 species such as water vole, otter, pine marten, lapwing, great crested newt, European eel and marsh fritillary.
As well as receiving Government funding, the selected projects will also receive hands on support from Natural England and the Environment Agency.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
"There has been significant interest from farmers and land owners in coming together on landscape scale projects to manage environmental assets on their land. Today we are confirming that we will support 22 collaborative projects in the first phase of the Landscape Recovery Fund. The opening of this fund complements the significant work already underway through Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive to support regenerative agriculture and promote soil health and financial resilience for farms."
The Landscape Recovery scheme is one of three new environmental land management schemes introduced by the Government, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which supports action at farm level to make agriculture more sustainable, and Local Nature Recovery, which will support action at local level to make space for nature alongside food production.
Each of the 22 projects covers an area of between 500 and 5,000 hectares. The majority involve groups of land managers and farmers, including tenants, working together to deliver a range of environmental benefits across farmed and rural landscapes.
Successful projects will now be awarded a share of around £12 million in development grants to help them finalise their delivery plans. Defra aims to support them to complete their development phase as soon as possible and start implementation on the ground.
Landscape Recovery projects:
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Adapting the Levels
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Adur River Restoration project
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The Axe Landscape Partnership
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Breckland Farmers Wildlife Network Project
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Boothby Wildland Project
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Darent Valley
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East Dartmoor
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Eelscapes: restoring the Severn Vale's wetland mosaics
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The Enfield Chase Restoration Project
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Greater Frampton Vision
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Holnicote River Corridors
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Killerton Three Rivers Landscape Recovery Project
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Lake District Eastern Fells
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Leven Carrs Wetland project
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North Norfolk: Wilder, Wetter, Better for Nature
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North East Cotswolds Farmer Cluster Project
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The South Pennines Park - Nature's Holme Landscape Recovery
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Wareham Arc
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WaLOR (Waveney and Little Ouse Headwaters) project
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The Three Dales Project
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Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery
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Wigan Greenheart
