LANDOWNERS and farmers can now apply for funding to support projects that will restore nature, reduce flood risks and create woodlands.  

The Landscape Recovery scheme will offer cash for radical land-use change and habitat restoration in England on any area between 500 and 5,000 hectares, with government officials saying it will go some way to replacing the money lost from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. 

Coming off the back of the Woodland Creation Offer, the new initiative has been backed by Forestry Commission chiefs, who hailed it as "a real opportunity ... to create and improve woodland." 

READ MORE: Woodland Creation Offer: Farmers could receive £10k for planting one hectare of trees

Sir William Worsley, Forestry Commission chair, said: “I am delighted that the Landscape Recovery Scheme pilot has opened and fully welcome the approach for large-scale land-use change and habitat restoration.

"The Scheme will work alongside the suite of support we already have available for woodland creation and management, and I believe this is a real opportunity for those with large estates, whether that’s farmers, foresters or land managers, or those who are part of a collaborative group, to create and improve woodland.”

Projects given cash in the first round of funding will focus on:

  • recovering and restoring England’s threatened native species. Projects under this theme will be administered by Natural England
  • restoring England’s streams and rivers: improving water quality, biodiversity and adapting to climate change. Projects under this theme will be administered by the Environment Agency

Environment Secretary, George Eustice, said:  “The focus of our Landscape Recovery scheme will be to restore threatened species and priority habitats – helping to protect our natural environment for generations to come and boost biodiversity.

Forestry Journal: Sir William Worsley welcomed the announcement Sir William Worsley welcomed the announcement

“While the types of projects we envisage won’t be right for every farm business or farm holding, they will be right for some which is why this scheme will support a choice that some landowners may want to take, and put in place the right incentives to allow them to do so.”

Applications for this round of funding are open until May 24.  The application process will be competitive and DEFRA will assess applications against selection criteria focused on the projects’ potential impact, feasibility and costs and will confirm the chosen round one pilot projects in the summer.

Up to 15 projects will be taken forward within the total project development budget available of £7.5m. 

To read more about the Landscape Recovery scheme and how to apply, visit GOV.UK.