Eden based organisations benefit from Lake District farming fund

Almost £600,000 has already been allocated in the Lake District as part of a national grants programme to help local farmers and landowners adapt for the future, become more resilient and deliver bigger and better outcomes for the environment, people and place.

The three-year Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme was launched last year by the government (Defra) and is being managed locally by the Lake District National Park Authority. Lake District farmers and landowners are being offered funding for a variety of projects under the four themes: climate, nature, people and place.

Eden based organisations to benefit include:

The Ullswater Community Interest Company, for the creation of nature corridors. Their project is working with local farmers to connect, expand and improve habitats by creating a series of wildlife corridors. As well as having this focus on nature and climate the project creates an opportunity for the community to work, as much of the work is done with volunteering, building pride in place.

The Fell Pony Heritage Trust which is dedicated to protecting the fell ponies’ traditions and supporting the hill farmers that maintain these upland herds in Cumbria. This year FiPL funding has been able to contribute to the cost of the Trust employing a part time administrator to work on developing the Trust’s activity to achieve its aims.

Full details of the programme are available on the Lake District National Park website.