Around 130 guests gathered at the Royal Agricultural University on the 5th February to celebrate the impact of the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme in the Cotswolds.
Launched by Defra in 2021, and administered in the Cotswolds by the Cotswolds National Landscape team, the programme has seen over £4.5million of funding allocated to 167 innovative and exciting projects in the area. The projects exemplify the programme’s commitment to supporting sustainable and diverse farming practices, benefitting the environment, addressing climate change, promoting nature recovery, and engaging with communities. This collective effort has empowered farmers, land managers, conservationists, local groups, associations and charities to succeed and thrive, building a more resilient and beautiful landscape and legacy.
Guests heard from Brendan McCarthy, Chair of the CNL Board, about the various ways in which FiPL has helped to build resilience in the Cotswolds; from Jonty Brunyee about the growing regenerative agriculture movement here, and from a panel of successful funding applicants – who shared their stories of how the programme has worked for them.