A New Agricultural Revolution

Farmers in the Forest of Bowland are embracing the transition to more nature-friendly farming methods.

The biggest change in agriculture since the war is underway across the UK and farms in the Forest of Bowland are among the first to sign up for new projects to farm in more naturefriendly ways that also benefit people, landscapes and the planet. Britain’s departure from the European Union also meant we would leave the Common Agricultural Policy and both farmers and environmentalists have helped devise the transition to an independent national agricultural policy. Sweeping changes to farming support payments come into effect over the next few years, with a greater emphasis on protecting the environment determining how much tax-payer’s money farmers will receive. In the intervening period, the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs is rolling out targeted programmes within Britain’s protected areas: National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – including the Forest of Bowland, where farmers can now apply for support payments under the new Farming in Protected Landscapes programme.

Between now and March 2024, the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme will support farmers and land managers to carry out projects that support nature recovery, mitigate the impacts of climate change, provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and cultural heritage, and support nature-friendly, sustainable farm businesses. The FiPL programme might support ‘re-wiggling’ a straightened watercourse to benefit biodiversity, restoring dry stone walls, creating new connections between habitats, providing new access opportunities, and links to the rights of way network or supporting a locallybranded food initiative. The over-riding aim of Lapwing © David Patrick the FiPL programme is to deliver positive outcomes for the climate, for nature, for people and for places. So, a plan that allows a local volunteer group to manage a patch of poorly drained marginal farmland near a stream for wildlife, with provision of a new footpath to encourage public access, would tick pretty much all the boxes.

Since it was launched last summer, the Forest of Bowland AONB has received more than 100 expressions of interests. Sarah Robinson (Lead Officer) and Philip Miller (Development Officer) have been busy visiting prospective applicants and developing project ideas. Applicants do not need to have any experience of farming within an existing agri-environment framework such as the Countryside Stewardship or Higher Level Stewardship schemes. Third party organisations and individuals can apply, as long as proposed projects are implemented in collaboration with a farmer or land manager, or in support of a farmer or group of farmers. Amongst the first wave of projects to receive funding in Bowland are contributions to the building of a new camping pod as part of a farm diversification project and an ambitious three-stage rewilding project on another farm. The rewilding project involves tree and shrub planting, meadow restoration, wetland creation and enhanced public access to encourage wider engagement with nature.

Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme Lead Officer Sarah Robinson said: “We are really excited to have the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme available in the AONB. “It’s a great new opportunity which will allow farmers and land managers in the AONB to develop novel project ideas and deliver them on their farms for the benefit of nature, climate, people and place.” “It will help to build resilient nature-friendly farm businesses, restore much needed habitats to the landscape, open up new access opportunities to more people and enable us to face the climate emergency within a more resilient Bowland.”

Haymaking Twiston © Graham Cooper

Other successful schemes which have been approved this year include:

l A contribution towards the purchase of a quad trail flail to allow the farmer to carry out rush management to create improved nesting habitat for endangered upland waders like the curlew l The creation of fenced off wildlife corridors and ‘leaky dams’ to increase habitat connectivity and biodiversity and improve resilience to local flood risk and climate change. l The construction of a purpose-built flexible building accessible to all abilities with residential education access and support for additional educational visits l The reinstatement of historic hedgerows in poor condition, connecting them up with new hedgerow creation, to improve biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration l A contribution towards the purchase of a hay baler to allow the farmer to manage their species-rich hay meadows in a project which will also see two additional meadows on their farm restored l Funding for plans to be produced which will enable historic barns to be restored for future generations