The UK has just taken a bold step to boost private investment in nature, with the launch of new Nature Investment Standards designed to bring trust and clarity to nature markets.
Curious how nature gets measured for Biodiversity Net Gain? This article unpacks the biodiversity metric—how it works, who uses it, and what it means for landowners looking to restore habitats or sell units.
Not all developments are caught by the new BNG rules. This article explains which projects are exempt from Biodiversity Net Gain—like small home extensions, self-builds, or tiny rural developments—and how to check if the rules apply to you.
A plain-English introduction to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), what the 10% rule means, and how landowners like you can get involved—whether to support nature, unlock funding, or plan for the future.
A 2025 guide to agricultural grants in the UK, covering SFI, Countryside Stewardship, EWCO, and more, with funding for hedgerows, species-rich meadows, woodland creation, and farm modernisation—plus how landowners can maximise financial support with the right applications.
A guide to free tree schemes for UK landowners in 2025, covering where to get trees from organisations like the Woodland Trust, Tree Council, and local councils, plus grant funding options to support planting, fencing, and long-term management.
A complete guide to hedge planting grants in the UK for 2025, covering funding for new hedgerows, restoration, and long-term management through Countryside Stewardship, SFI, EWCO, and Biodiversity Net Gain—plus how to apply and maximise payments.
A complete guide to tree planting grants in the UK for 2025, covering EWCO, Countryside Stewardship, and Biodiversity Net Gain, with insights on how to apply and maximise funding.
A comprehensive guide to grants and funding options for UK landowners, covering woodland creation, grassland restoration, and biodiversity schemes—with insights on how to maximise financial support.
A step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in 2025, covering eligibility, payment rates, application process, and how to maximize your funding.
Discover the best funding opportunities for landowners, from farm grants to woodland creation and biodiversity payments—without the hassle of endless research.
DEFRA is merging CS Mid Tier and SFI into one application process in 2025, making funding easier, faster, and more efficient. Find out what’s changing and how to prepare.
Learn how to access funding to tackle tree diseases, strengthen woodland resilience, and create a UKFS-compliant management plan.
A practical guide to planning and implementing rotational grazing systems, with tips on paddock design, forage selection, and accessing grants like SFI and CS for sustainable grassland management.
Discover how rotational grazing boosts profits by reducing costs, improving livestock health, and unlocking grants like SFI and CS, while enhancing land value and resilience.
Discover how rotational grazing can transform grasslands into thriving, resilient ecosystems, with practical advice, real-world examples, and guidance on grants to fund your project.
A step-by-step guide to transforming grasslands into pollinator havens, covering land assessment, planning, evidence collection, and securing grants like SFI and CS.
Discover the grants and funding opportunities available to turn your grasslands into thriving pollinator habitats, with practical steps to secure financial support.
Discover how small actions like wildflower strips and hedgerow blooms can transform your grasslands into essential pollinator corridors, supported by tailored grants.
Learn how species-rich grasslands can act as wildlife corridors, bridging gaps between habitats and restoring biodiversity, all while preserving the traditional charm of your land.
Discover how herbal leys can transform your grasslands with healthier soil, improved biodiversity, and grants to make it all possible.
Discover how species-rich grasslands can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and reduce costs, with guidance on funding opportunities and practical steps to get started.
Learn how to transform your land into a thriving wildflower meadow with practical steps, available grants, and tips for long-term success.
Explore how grants like SFI and Countryside Stewardship can help transform grasslands into thriving, sustainable ecosystems while unlocking financial support for environmental projects.
A step-by-step guide to applying for grassland grants, including key schemes like SFI and CS, eligibility criteria, payment rates, and tips to secure funding for sustainable land management.
Learn how to turn your grasslands into productive, low-input systems with practical strategies and grants that save costs, boost biodiversity, and increase your income.
Discover how low-input grasslands can revive depleted fields, support biodiversity, and unlock valuable grants to transform your land into a thriving ecosystem.
Learn how to transform your fields into thriving low-input grasslands with careful planning, strategic grazing, and biodiversity-focused practices—all while unlocking grants to support your journey.
Discover how reducing inputs on your grasslands can save costs, boost biodiversity, and unlock valuable grants to transform your land into a thriving, resilient ecosystem.
This article captures the personal stories of farmers at the November 2024 protest, revealing their diverse motivations—from fighting inheritance taxes to protecting food security—and their shared determination to safeguard the future of British agriculture.
This article outlines the key policy changes farmers are calling for, from inheritance tax reform to sustainable farming investments, providing a forward-looking roadmap to support British agriculture and rural communities.
Learn how Countryside Stewardship grants can help you plant, restore, and maintain hedgerows while maximizing financial support and enhancing your land's productivity and biodiversity.
This article uncovers the often-overlooked roles of farmers as stewards of the environment, protectors of rural heritage, and contributors to community resilience, highlighting why farming is vital to the nation’s future.
This article explores the cultural and emotional significance of family farms, highlighting how inheritance tax reforms threaten not just livelihoods but the traditions, communities, and landscapes that define rural Britain
This article uncovers how farming policies impact food security, quality, and prices, linking the struggles of farmers to the everyday choices on your plate and the future of Britain’s food system.
Explore capital items and management actions in the updated Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme. From woodland creation to flood management, discover funding opportunities tailored to enhance your land and protect the environment.
Discover how tenant farmers can navigate challenges like landlord permissions and short-term leases to access SFI grants.
Turn overlooked field edges and hedgerows into income-generating assets with the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Discover grants that boost biodiversity, improve soil health, and diversify your farm’s revenue.
Discover how small plots of land, from hedgerows to grassy edges, can unlock financial rewards and boost biodiversity with the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Transform untapped spaces into thriving ecosystems and valuable assets.
Learn how to enhance the value of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) by combining it with grants like Countryside Stewardship, the England Woodland Creation Offer, and carbon credits.
Explore the November 2024 farmers' protest, highlighting key threats to UK farming and the urgent call for fair, sustainable policies.
DEFRA has temporarily closed applications for 76 capital grant items due to overwhelming demand. Key grants like Woodland Tree Health and Higher Tier options remain open, while submitted applications for closed grants are on hold until early 2025
Choosing the right trees is the foundation of any successful agroforestry system. This guide dives into how to select, plant, and manage species that align with your land’s needs and goals, helping you create a resilient, productive landscape.
The EWCO Fast Track helps landowners quickly turn underused land into productive woodlands with faster approvals and up to £12,700 per hectare in funding.
This guide provides practical tips for landowners to ensure their woodland projects follow the guidelines of the UK Forestry Standard.
Explore the enhanced England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), now with increased payments of up to £11,600 per hectare to support woodland creation.
Discover how silvoarable systems—planting tree rows alongside crops—can boost your farm's productivity and income. This practical guide covers choosing the right trees, layout strategies, and step-by-step setup tips, plus detailed info on grants to help UK landowners get started.
Discover how adding trees to your pastures can keep your animals happier, your land healthier, and your wallet fuller. Dive into silvopasture—smart farming that mixes trees and livestock for bigger rewards.
Discover how agroforestry can be a game-changer for UK farmers facing economic and environmental challenges.
Agroforestry 101: Discover how mixing trees with farming can boost biodiversity, enrich soil, and even add extra income. From alley cropping to silvopasture, here’s why it’s a smart, sustainable choice for UK landowners.
A summary of the UK’s 2024 budget cuts and tax changes, and how it will affect landowners.Plus some very practical strategies for how to deal with them.
A comprehensive guide on certifying woodland carbon projects in the UK, covering the Woodland Carbon Code, Peatland Code, and other standards, with step-by-step instructions, practical tips, and advice on leveraging additional funding opportunities to maximise returns.
A detailed guide for landowners in England on generating and selling carbon credits through woodland creation, covering the Woodland Carbon Code’s requirements, the step-by-step process from registration to verification, and strategies for finding buyers and negotiating sales contracts.
Comprehensive overview of carbon credits and woodland creation in the UK, covering how carbon credits are generated, verified, and sold, and how these projects support the UK’s net zero goals while offering financial opportunities for landowners.
A guide for tenant farmers on navigating Countryside Stewardship, covering available options, eligibility criteria, necessary landlord permissions, and practical advice for making the most of the scheme while addressing the unique challenges they face.
Overview of Countryside Stewardship Capital Grants, including funding for hedgerows, tree planting, water management, and infrastructure improvements, with guidance on eligibility, payment rates, and combining grants with other schemes like SFI and EWCO.
Comprehensive guide to Higher-Tier Countryside Stewardship, detailing support for complex environmental projects like woodland creation, habitat restoration, and species protection, along with eligibility criteria, payment rates, and a step-by-step application process.
Overview of Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship, including eligible actions like field margins, hedgerow management, and grassland restoration, with guidance on application, payment rates, and combining grants with other schemes for maximum support.
All the ins and outs of Countryside Stewardship—essential information for the English landowner looking to enhance their land and access financial support.
Worry no more—this article gives you all the insights you need to navigate the SFI eligibility criteria and application process, ensuring a smooth path to securing funding and a successful application.
SFI can be combined with other schemes and incentives like Countryside Stewardship, EWCO, Biodiversity Net Gain, and carbon credits to maximise funding opportunities and enhance environmental benefits on your land.
Learn how SFI can support your tree planting, hedgerow management, and agroforestry goals with detailed guidance on payment options, eligibility, and action plans.
Introduction to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), explaining its goals, key components like soil health, hedgerow management, and tree integration, and how it supports sustainable farming practices and environmental benefits in England.
Comprehensive look at tree health grants in England, detailing financial support options for managing tree diseases and pests, restocking with disease-resistant species, and implementing biosecurity measures under the Tree Health Pilot Scheme and Countryside Stewardship.
Guide to Countryside Stewardship tree grants, covering options for tree planting, maintenance, and integrating trees into farm landscapes, along with tips on combining grants like EWCO and SFI for comprehensive support.
Detailed guide on the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), explaining eligibility, funding tiers, application process, and payment rates for supporting tree planting, biodiversity, water management, and climate resilience projects.
Overview of the main tree grants available in England, including funding for tree planting, management, and health under schemes like EWCO, Countryside Stewardship, SFI, and private grants, with details on payment rates, eligibility, and application processes.
Breakdown of payment rates for hedgerow planting, management, and maintenance under Countryside Stewardship and SFI, along with additional support for capital items like fencing and biosecurity measures.
Overview of grants available for managing hedgerow tree health, including funding under the Tree Health Pilot Scheme for felling, restocking, and biosecurity measures to control pests and diseases like ash dieback and oak processionary moth (OPM).
Detailed guide on using the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for hedgerow management, covering eligibility, payment rates for specific actions (assessment, management, and tree maintenance), and how to combine SFI with other grant schemes for comprehensive support.
Overview of the main hedgerow grant schemes in England, including Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive options, as well as private and environmental funding opportunities for planting, restoring, and managing hedgerows.
Advice for English landowners on protecting trees from drought, flooding, wind, and temperature extremes, focusing on watering, mulching, pruning, and promoting long-term resilience.
A comprehensive, season-by-season guide for English landowners on maintaining tree health in hedgerows and small plots, covering pruning, watering, pest control, and protecting trees from extreme weather conditions.
Practical advice on identifying common pests in hedgerows and gardens, with tips on early detection and eco-friendly methods to manage threats to tree health.
A guide to identifying and preventing common tree diseases in hedgerows and gardens, with tips on recognising symptoms and implementing practices to maintain tree and hedgerow health.
An introduction to managing tree health in hedgerows and small woodlands, covering the importance of healthy trees, common threats like pests and poor soil, and basic techniques for assessing tree health.
Hedgerows help manage water on farmland by reducing soil erosion, improving moisture retention, and preventing flooding through strategic planting and integration with sustainable farming practices.
A practical guide to hedgerow maintenance, covering the best times for pruning, hedge-laying techniques to rejuvenate old hedgerows, and tools and methods for ensuring long-term health and function.
Managing hedgerows to enhance biodiversity involves supporting pollinators, birds, and mammals through techniques like rotational cutting and hedge-laying, while balancing wildlife conservation with agricultural needs.
Overview of selecting species for hedgerow planting, focusing on native plant benefits and strategies for long-term success.
An introduction to hedgerow planting and management, covering their ecological and agricultural importance, best practices for planting and maintaining hedgerows, and the legal requirements landowners must follow in England.
An overview of promoting natural regeneration in woodland management, focusing on encouraging seed dispersal, protecting young trees from grazing, and balancing natural growth with active management for long-term woodland health.
Maintaining woodlands through regular health assessments, controlling invasive species, and keeping paths and infrastructure in good condition for long-term sustainability.
Step-by-step guide to creating a Woodland Management Plan in England, covering key elements, aligning goals, and ensuring compliance with the UK Forestry Standard.
An overview of woodland management, focusing on maintaining long-term health through regular monitoring, creating a management plan, and balancing goals like sustainability, timber production, recreation, and ecological balance.
Step-by-step guide to applying for woodland creation grants, covering registration with the Rural Payments Agency, gathering required documents, completing the application, and what to expect after submission.
Overview of Countryside Stewardship grants for woodland creation, comparing Mid Tier and Higher Tier schemes, eligibility, and payment rates for supporting biodiversity and land management.
Overview of the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO), covering eligibility, funding for environmental benefits like biodiversity and water management, and a detailed application process.
Overview of funding options for woodland creation in England, including EWCO, SFI, WCaG, and private carbon markets.
An overview of designing woodlands with dedicated zones for conservation, timber production, and recreation, ensuring a balance between productivity and environmental sustainability.
Tips for choosing the ideal location for woodland creation by assessing landscape features, avoiding ecological conflicts, and integrating woodlands with agricultural and recreational land uses.
A guide to setting clear goals for woodland creation, aligning objectives with grants and policies, and balancing short-term gains with long-term benefits for a sustainable project.
Learn how to assess your land for woodland creation by examining soil, terrain, climate, and existing biodiversity to ensure a thriving and sustainable woodland.
Rewilding enhances biodiversity and supports ecosystem services by restoring natural processes and creating resilient ecosystems.
Overview of practical strategies to enhance biodiversity on your land, including planting native species, creating wildlife corridors, managing hedgerows and woodlands, and implementing sustainable land management practices.
Biodiversity is vital for ecosystem health, and landowners can enhance it by planting native species, maintaining hedgerows, and supporting wetlands.
Rewilding helps landowners enhance biodiversity and restore ecosystems by allowing nature to regenerate with minimal intervention.
A friendly guide for landowners on engaging in local nature recovery efforts.
Landowners discover how tree planting enhances biodiversity, improves soil health, sequesters carbon, and offers financial support opportunities in nature recovery efforts.
Landowners will discover how nature recovery can enhance biodiversity, improve ecosystem services, and build resilient landscapes, while offering financial support and long-term value for their land.
