A new Farming in Protected Landscapes programme will provide significant financial support for farmers and landowners to help deliver activity for project outcomes relating to climate, nature, people, and place.
 
The programme, funded by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), will see nearly £1 million invested across the Coast & Heaths and Dedham Vale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), with the bulk of funds targeted at farmers and landowners to undertake project activity.

By supporting the farmers, land managers and people who live and work in these nationally designated areas, the programme will help protect these exceptional places and support local communities. 

The scheme will be led by Alex Dinsdale, newly appointed Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer, who has recently joined the AONB team and brings with him a wealth of experience from the agriculture sector. Alex has previously held several roles at the National Farmers’ Union, before more recently working in precision farming and Agri-tech.

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme will have a significant positive impact on conserving and enhancing the AONBs and a range of exciting proposals have already been submitted by farmers in both Dedham Vale and the Coast & Heaths.

These include an application for investment to support a transition to regenerative agriculture, proposals to measure and improve freshwater water quality, initiatives to rejuvenate old, and establish new, orchards, and environmental training and information for farmers and landowners.

Alex Dinsdale, Farming in Protected Landscapes Officer, said “We’re already seeing lots of interest from farmers across both AONBs and we’re looking forward to seeing many more applications. The Farming in Protected Landscape programme will lead to real improvements for our landscapes, nature recovery and farm business resilience, and plays a useful role in the transition of agricultural support mechanisms from the Common Agricultural Policy into Environmental Land Management scheme.

The Farming in Protected Landscapes team would welcome applications from farmers and land managers located in both the Coast & Heaths and Dedham Vale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For more information, including detailed guidance and application forms, please visit www.suffolkcoastandheaths,org or www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org respectively.

Alternatively, you can contact the team by phone on 01502 674630 or email AONBfarmgrants@suffolk.gov.uk.