Farming in Protected Landscapes
What is it?
Farming in Protected Landscapes is a Defra-funded programme for farmers and land managers in England’s Protected Landscapes (National Landscapes and National Parks) for projects which:
- Help nature recovery
- Tackle the impacts of climate change
- Provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage
- Support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses
What does it fund?
More than 80 projects have been funded through the Programme in Cannock Chase National Landscape since 2021, providing more than £1 million of grants to farmers and land managers.
Click on the Map here to see the locations of projects and read more about some of those that have been funded.
On Cannock Chase the Programme has supported:
- Hedgerow planting and laying
- Tree planting in hedgerows, copses, parklands and orchards
- Wetland restoration and creation, including scrapes
- Heathland restoration
- Meadow creation
- Conserving historic features
- Access improvements to paths, stiles and kissing gates
- Interpretation of farming and natural and historic features
- Educational resources and outreach projects involving schools and conservation volunteers
- Protection of wildlife, including surveys for priority species, and the installation of bird and bat boxes, insect and reptile refugia
- Workshops for landowners and other interested parties
Who can apply?
The programme is open to all farmers and land managers (including from the private, public and charity sector) with land in the Cannock Chase National Landscape. Other organisations and individuals can apply, as long as they do this in collaboration with a farmer or land manager, or in support of a farmer or group of farmers.
Projects on land outside the National Landscape boundary up to approximately one kilometre can be supported where a benefit to the designated area or the objectives of the National Landscape can be demonstrated.
You can check if your land is within the boundaries of the National Landscape on the MAGIC mapping website. Choose the Map Layers tab on the top left, then follow these steps:
- select ‘Magic’ and in each case, click the arrow on the left to open the menu.
- select Designations (open the menu)
- select Land-Based Designations
- select Statutory
- select Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (England) and National Parks (England) and zoom in to, or search for ‘Cannock’ within the search bar at the top of the page.
Payment rates
If an applicant will not make a commercial gain through a project, they could receive up to 100% of the costs. Where the project supports a clear commercial gain to you then you can be paid up to 40% of eligible costs, and if the project generates some commercial benefit to you but is primarily delivering public goods, then this will be paid up to 80% of eligible costs.
The programme will work alongside – not in competition with – Defra’s existing and new schemes, adding value where it is most needed. If a potential project can be rewarded through those schemes instead, you will be made aware of them.
If an activity is equivalent to one under Countryside Stewardship (CS), the programme payment rate will be the same as the Stewardship rate. You can search for the CS grants available, the codes, the rates and the grant requirements at https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants
Application Assessment
Applications are scored against the following categories:
Delivery of programme outcomes (40%)
How closely does the project support outcomes under the four themes of Climate, Nature, People and Place, and fit with our local Cannock Chase priorities?
Value for Money (20%)
Does the project demonstrate an efficient use of resources, the use of additional funding resources where appropriate and cost-efficiency if FiPL funding is approved
Sustainability / legacy of projects (20%)
Will the outcome of the project be maintained and have a lasting positive impact for Cannock Chase? This may include the likelihood of behaviour change and increased capacity, as well as more tangible measures.
Ability to deliver (20%)
Does the application demonstrate the capability to deliver project outcomes to a good standard in the timelines required.
A Local Assessment Panel
Comprising representatives from the local farming and land management community and other specialists, meets every 8 weeks to review applications with a value above £10,000 and award grants.
Applications below £10,000 are reviewed by a senior member of the National Landscape team, but at the discretion of the FiPL team, may be referred for assessment by the Local Assessment Panel. Where more than two applications have been received by the same applicant / organisation over the lifetime of the programme (2021-26), these will be reviewed by the Local Assessment Panel.
Agreements
Successful applicants will sign an ‘onward agreement’ before they start works, confirming their commitment to carry out and maintain their funded activities.
Capital infrastructure assets (including, but not limited to, fences, gates, building restoration), must be maintained for 5 years from the date of completion.
Machinery assets (to deliver conservation work, for example a brush harvester for grassland restoration) must be maintained for 5 years from the date of purchase.
What the programme doesn’t support
This list is illustrative only and not comprehensive:
- Work on domestic property
- Solar panels
- Renewable energy (except where it is provided solely for the purpose of contributing to a wider Farming in Protected Landscapes project)
- The purchase of farm animals and farm vehicles e.g. tractors, quad bikes
- Purchase of second-hand machinery
- Electric vehicle charging points
- Work which is a statutory requirement
Please check with your FiPL officer on eligibility in the first instance.
How do I apply?
The best way to make a start with your application is to read the Guidance for Applicants and think how your project fits within them.
If you have a project in mind, you are encouraged to get in touch with one of our officers. We can give you pointers that will give your project the best chance of being funded. Our officers will arrange to visit you on your farm / land, listen to your ideas, provide advice and help you to complete your application.
Cannock Chase FiPL Officer contact details:
Claire Geoghegan, email claire.geoghegan@staffordshire.gov.uk or telephone 01785 277397 or 07773 663800
Karen Davies, email karen.davies1@staffordshire.gov.uk or telephone 01785 895072 or 07973 695553
Application Pack
More information about the fund is included below. Just click on the buttons to download the documents.
Our work
Our work is wide-ranging and spans across our four integrated strategic aims for Nature, Climate, People and Place.
You can find out here about the current projects we are working on, how our funding streams can support you and discover the variety of advice and guidance that is available, including resources to download.
Latest news
The news posts below provide more information on work in progress and latest news of Cannock Chase and our partners.
Take a look at the latest Cannock Chase National Landscape e-newsletter for May 2026. Booking is now open for the Annual Conference 2026. You can find
...
Join us for Cannock Chase National Landscape Annual Conference 2026, and a day of networking, learning and sharing ideas! This year’s conference is being held
...
Take a look at the latest Cannock Chase National Landscape e-newsletter for April 2026. The National Landscape offers a range of grants that can help
...
We are pleased to announce that the Cannock Chase National Landscape Annual Conference will be held on Wednesday 3rd June 2026 at the Aquarius Ballroom,
...
Take a look at the latest Cannock Chase National Landscape e-newsletter for March 2026. The e-newsletter will keep you up to date on news from
...
This is a face-to-face meeting taking place on Monday 16th March 2026 at 2pm at the Main Conference Room, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Wolseley Centre ST17
...