Colleagues from across the designated landscapes of Wales recently visited a farm on the English side of the Wye Valley National Landscape to see and hear how they have benefited from the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme.
The visit included officials from Defra and Welsh Government and provided the opportunity to learn more about FiPL, now in its fourth year.
The FiPL programme was launched in June 2021, with a focus on England’s protected landscapes by supporting activities that:
- help nature recovery
- mitigate the impacts of climate change
- provide opportunities for people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage
- protect or improve the quality and character of the landscape.
Speaking about the day, Andrew Blake, Wye Valley National Landscape Manager and Chair of Tirweddau Cymru said: “The designations of our landscapes recognise their value for nature, landscape, culture, and heritage. They have been shaped by farmers and land managers for generations and the majority of land within our designated landscapes continues to be farmed.
“We know our designated landscapes have a critical role to play in the future of farming in Wales and the new farming scheme will be a key delivery mechanism for action to respond to both the climate and nature emergencies. We look forward to continuing to work with Welsh Government as they develop the new Sustainable Farming Scheme.”