Up to 500 farmers may join Northern Ireland nature scheme
The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) announced a new Farming with Nature Landscape Projects Scheme designed to support large-area environmental work on farms. The scheme aims to fund up to 10 projects, each potentially involving groups of farmers and land managers to improve habitats and biodiversity across wider areas.
What is changing
DAERA unveiled the Farming with Nature Landscape Projects Scheme as part of its Farming with Nature Package. It is designed to support environmental improvements by enabling collaboration among multiple farmers and land managers on larger tracts of land. The scheme opens for proposals on 9 November and closes at 5pm on 4 December.
Key facts
• Up to 10 major nature restoration projects are planned, each potentially involving about 50 farmers or land managers.
• The initiative targets biodiversity and habitat restoration across farmland areas rather than single farms.
• The program is tied to DAERA’s broader Farming with Nature Package and was announced during Environment Week at Stormont.
Who is affected
The scheme could involve groups of farmers and land managers across Northern Ireland. Beneficiaries are those who apply to participate in one of the landscape projects and who collaborate with others to deliver habitat and biodiversity benefits on larger land areas.
Practical next steps
Interested groups should prepare collaborative project proposals and note the application window: opens 9 November, closes 4 December at 5pm. If accepted, projects would be supported under the Farming with Nature Landscape Projects Scheme and aligned with the wider Farming with Nature Package. Applicants should consult DAERA guidelines when submitting proposals.
Limits and questions
Details such as exact funding levels per project, eligibility criteria for participating farmers, and process for group formation have not been fully disclosed in the announcement. Prospective applicants may wish to follow DAERA updates for more specifics and any interim guidance ahead of the 9 November opening date.
Which sources did Setup in Bahrain review?
Setup in Bahrain reviewed the following source material before preparing this explanatory article.
The links remain visible so readers can inspect the evidence, compare dates and context, and confirm current requirements with the relevant authority.
- farminguk.com — evidence source reviewed for this article.
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