Farmers in Greater Lincolnshire can now apply for new grants to help them protect the environment and reduce water pollution.
Environment Minister Dan Rogerson has announced that Natural England will be accepting applications for Water Capital Grants from 2nd March 2015.
Providing £10 million worth of government funding to the farm industry, these grants will fund new projects to reduce the impact that agriculture can have on water quality.
Mr Rogerson made the announcement a week after applications were invited for Woodland Capital Grants. Under this scheme farmers, land managers and foresters can apply for further grants worth a total of £4 million to create new woodland, protect our existing forests and restore tree health.
Mark Tinsley, Director of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Food Board, said: “We have made agri-food one of our priority sectors and want our farming industry to be the best in the world by enabling the sector to reach its full potential.
“Thanks to this government funding, farmers can now develop exciting new projects that will bring real benefits to the environment by making our water cleaner and protecting our valuable woodlands. I would urge local growers and producers to get in touch with the Greater Lincolnshire LEP for more information on both grants and how to apply.”
The Water and Woodland Capital Grants make up the first phase of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Set to be rolled out in full later in the summer, Countryside Stewardship will commit around £900m to benefiting the environment over the next six years. This will help farmers and land managers develop environmentally friendly techniques and adopt initiatives such as restoring hedges and improving water quality.
