Case Studies: Chilterns Farming in Protected Landscapes Projects
Here are some case studies from the Farming in Protected Landscapes Projects that received a grant in 2022-23 in the Chilterns.
Since the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme started in 2021, we’ve allocated £750,000 to 56 projects in the Chilterns, and it’s been fantastic to support and work with so many proactive farmers. There has been a huge variety of successful projects so far with all sorts of different owners and land managers involved. Here are some examples:
Chiltern Rangers' community plant nursery, Penn
Chiltern Rangers are using a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant to create a community plant nursery, which will grow native trees and shrubs of local provenance. The project will provide plants for nature conservation projects across the Chilterns
Growing plants locally rather than from further afield will reduce bio security risks and also carbon emissions. The nursery will provide volunteering opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, including school groups.
Theme: nature, climate, people, place
Reintroducing grazing at Coppid Farm, Binfield
Coppid farm is reintroducing grazing to a number of low input fields.
A Farming in Protected Landscapes grant has helped pay for the fencing, water supply, gates and hedgelaying.
Theme: nature, climate, place
Mobility Gates at Chartridge
A Farming in Protected Landscapes grant enabled stiles to be replaced with mobility kissing gates, improving access to the land and paths.
New hedges have also been planted, and existing hedges have been laid.
Theme: nature, climate, people, place
Chiltern Open Air Museum's lambing fold
Chiltern Open Air Museum created a lambing fold – a traditional shelter or pen used for lambing until the early 1900s.
COAM’s lambing fold has been moved to a new location for Spring 2023, and the Farming in Protected Landscapes funding enabled the reconstruction.
Theme: people, place
Support for low input grazing near Amersham
A grant was received for fencing of pasture to help with low input grazing, and also helped pay for ditch management as well as water supply and gates.
Theme: nature, climate, place
Pasture fencing near Chorleywood
This Farming in Protected Landscapes grant provided fencing of pasture for low input grazing, and will also pay for a botanical survey to help assess how this approach to management improves plant diversity.
Theme: nature, climate, place
Speen Traditional Orchard
Farming in Protected Landscapes funded the creation of a traditional orchard of heritage varieties, and also supported hedge coppicing and gapping up.Theme: nature, climate, people, place
North Chilterns Farmer Cluster Workshops
Farming in Protected Landscapes supported a number of farmer cluster workshops on topics such as ponds, hedgerows and woodlands.Theme: nature, climate, place
Mob Grazing at Road Farm near Great Missenden
A Farming in Protected Landscapes Grant enabled the set up of a mob grazing system (electric fencing, water supply and herbal leys) with benefits for farm costs, soil health and biodiversity.Theme: nature, climate
The National Hedgelaying Championships
Held at Crowmarsh Battle Farms in October 2022, a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant made this event possible and also paid for a video of the event to share the benefits of this traditional technique with a wider audience.
Watch the video below to learn about this traditional rural craft of cutting and laying hedges to rejuvenate them and help them stay healthy, both for wildlife and as effective field barriers, and to see footage from the National Hedgelaying Championships, bringing people together to keep this skill alive.
National Hedgelaying Championships
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