Grants and programmes on offer
Countryside Stewardship Scheme
We offer help with applications for Natural England’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme (higher tier, mid tier, capital grants, woodland support, catchment sensitive farming, facilitation fund).
Countryside Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme which provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land. Its primary objectives are to:
- Conserving and restoring wildlife habitats
- Flood risk management
- Reducing widespread water pollution from agriculture
- Keeping the character of the countryside
- Preserving features important to the history of the rural landscape
- Encouraging educational access.
Catchment Sensitive Farming
Catchment Sensitive Farming offers training, advice and grant support to enable farmers and land managers to take action to reduce diffuse water and air pollution from agriculture to protect water bodies and the environment. On the Catchment Sensitive Farming website you can:
- Find out if your land is in a high priority area.
- Access training and advice.
- Apply for Countryside Stewardship mid tier capital grants.
- Find your local Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer.
Peak District National Park Grant Scheme
The Peak District National Park Authority offers our own grant scheme for help with projects that may not be suitable for the main national schemes. The grants are discretionary and funds are limited. If you are a tenant farmer, we recommend you talk to your landlord before you contact us. Please contact our Farm Advice team for more information (see contact details below).
England Woodland Creation Offer
England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) from the Forestry Commission-pays annual maintenance and standard capital grants for new woodland creation for 10 years. This can also be supported by the Woodland Creation Planning Grant for woodlands over 5 hectares.
Woodland Management and Maintenance
Woodland Management Planning Grant and Woodland Improvement Grants are part of Countryside Stewardship, offering grants for ongoing woodland management.
Small Woodland Creation Scheme
Following the successes of previous years, the partnership project between the Peak District National Park Authority and the Woodland Trust is again looking for more suitable sites for new native woodland planting. The Peak District Small Woodland Creation Scheme was set up to fund planting in small areas where the national Countryside Stewardship Scheme is not applicable, and has so far supported 30 hectares of woodland creation.
We would welcome any enquiries for any potential woodland creation opportunities. Please contact Ben Lambert on 01629 816395 or email ben.lambert@peakdistrict.gov.uk for further information.
Expired schemes
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship scheme agreements are still running and continue to provide financial incentives for land managers to look after the environment.
Future Funding
DEFRAs new Environmental Land Management Schemes are being developed to gradually replace some of the current environmental schemes.
New Environmental Land Management Schemes include:
- The Sustainable Farming Incentive is currently open for applications.
- Local Nature Recovery will become available during 2024
- Landscape Recovery will become available from 2024
These schemes are intended to support the rural economy while achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
Through these schemes, farmers and other land managers may enter into agreements to be paid for delivering the following:
- clean and plentiful water
- clean air
- thriving plants and wildlife
- protection from environmental hazards
- reduction of and adaptation to climate change
- beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment.
Visit the Gov.uk website for more information and how you can get involved.
Conservation Advice
Our team of farm advisers can provide free advice for farmers and landowners within the national park. This can include advice on conservation land management (including current legislation) and appropriate funding opportunities.
Contact us
If you would like more information or advice, please contact our team of Farm Advisers and Farming in Protected Landscape Officers:
- Email: farming@peakdistrict.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01629 816 200