How to apply

The application form and documents giving guidance to applicants are available from the ‘related files’ menu on the right of this page.

Before applying, we would strongly encourage you to contact us to discuss your application. Ideally, a Farming in Protected Landscapes project officer would visit your potential project location or meet you to discuss your ideas.

Applications can currently be made at any time, for funding in both years two and three of the programme. Funding will be awarded to successful applicants throughout the year so you should submit your application as soon as it is ready.

Multi-year awards may be possible for longer projects.

To complete your application you will need to submit an application form, a budget spreadsheet and a map of your project. A project officer will be able to help you with these.

All projects must end, and have been claimed and grants paid, by 31 March 2025.

Application assessment

Applications for over £10,000 will be judged by a Local Assessment Panel.

The Local Assessment Panel includes representatives from the AONB team, Natural England, the farming and land management community, and other specialists, drawn from the AONB Partnership’s working groups.  We expect that it will meet to make decisions every 6 to 8 weeks.

Applications for less than £10,000 will be decided upon by a senior member of the AONB team who has had no previous role in advising on the application.

Applications will be scored on:

Fit with Programme Outcomes – 40% of scoring weighting

Value for money – 20%

Sustainability / legacy – 20%

Deliverability – 20%

Agreements

Capital infrastructure assets (including, but not limited to, fences, gates, building restoration), should be maintained for 5 years from the date of completion.

Machinery assets (to deliver conservation work, for example a brush harvester for grassland restoration) should be maintained for 5 years from the date of purchase.

The requirement to maintain natural, cultural and access activities (for example, management of grassland, restoration of a limekiln) delivered as part of programme will cease no later than 1 April 2025.