Trust’s project to support land managers receives six-figure boost

A Derbyshire Wildlife Trust project to support farmers and landowners to generate sustainable income, while facilitating nature’s recovery, has been awarded £100,000 by a pioneering government fund.

In the third round of the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF), launched by Defra and the Environment Agency, grants have been provided to environmental groups, local authorities, businesses and other organisations to help them to support farmers to develop nature projects to a point where they can attract private investment.

The funding aims to help develop natural environment projects to tackle a range of environmental issues, such as climate change, creating and restoring habitats, or improving water quality.

The primary purpose of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s scheme is to develop investment ready business models for a range of land managers by identifying the ecosystem services that they can deliver on their land.

According to the trust, agricultural policy has led to intensive farming practices across the Derwent catchment that have degraded and fragmented habitats, causing a decline in biodiversity and species abundance.

Its project project seeks a ‘win-win’ outcome, supporting farmers and landowners’ livelihoods, while ensuring that the habitats created can be maintained, and making and protecting more space for nature in Derbyshire.

Rachel Bennett, deputy director of wilder landscapes at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said:  ”We are delighted to have been awarded funds from NEIRF to move our Farming Nature Derwent project forward.

“We want to see far more nature-based solutions across the county, delivering the most effective solutions for society while helping nature’s recovery.

“Our goal with this project is to support farmers and landowners in developing new ways to generate sustainable income through payments for ecosystem services, at the same time as restoring and connecting habitats to help address the environmental pressures that impact the Derwent catchment.

“By enabling the creation of more space for nature and accelerating the delivery of nature recovery networks, the project will address a broad range of environmental and ecological problems, while supporting the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan goals, strengthening the provision of essential ecosystem services across Derbyshire.”