Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund opens for applications

Groups of farmers and landowners will be able to bid for a share of the £2.5 million fund until October 4. It is expected to support approximately 40 new facilitation groups to deliver large-scale environmental improvement in their area over the next three years.

Improvements could include natural flood prevention, enhancing wildlife habitats or planting more trees, according to Defra.

To apply, groups must submit plans showing how they will work together and share knowledge to protect and enhance their local environment, in line with their local Countryside Stewardship priorities.

Successful facilitation groups will also offer invaluable training, support and advice to potential Countryside Stewardship applicants for agreements starting in 2021.

Farming Minister George Eustice said: “We know that more can be achieved by trying to coordinate a landscape scale approach to creating habitats and supporting wildlife.

“This fund helps support local clusters of farmers to come together to promote similar interventions and options so that the management on each farm helps to complement a wider effort and we can achieve critical mass as we strive to support wildlife in our countryside.”

Visit the Defra Facilitation Fund page for more information and how to apply.