Farming in Protected Landscapes
Projects 2022-23
Norfolk Coast Biodiversity Audit (phase 2)
A biodiversity audit of inland coastal habitats heathland/woodland from A149- A148, building on the phase 1 audit in 2021 (for habitats within the low-lying coastal strip area) to generate an evidence base for conservation management.
£35,000
Invertebrate biodiversity surveys, Deepdale Farm
Undertaking biodiversity surveys of invertebrates across the farm to provide a baseline species list to inform the management of the farm (in terms of organic & diversification). Results and a methodology will be available to other landowners.
£4,967
Sustainable grazing, Stiffkey Farms
Facilitate a sustainable grazing regime, in particular fencing of calcareous grassland to enable grazing and the creation of 9ha of grassland on former cultivated land to conserve biodiversity and archaeology, and to sequester carbon.
£17,138
Waterlife Recovery East, AONB-wide
Eradication of mink and monitoring of mink and water vole populations throughout the Norfolk Coast AONB. Purchase and monitoring of ‘smart’ rafts’ and trail cameras, to notify when traps are triggered and photograph untrapped mink.
£10,499
Sand dunes restoration, Old Hunstanton
Removal of encroaching sea buckthorn to improve the biodiversity value and climate resilience of the dune habitat as recommended by Norfolk Coast Biodiversity Audit (phase1), and encouraging people on the path, reducing dune erosion.
£4,875
Access improvements, Redwell Marsh SSSI, Holme
Norfolk Ornithologists Association: Access improvements to a public right of way and signs to make the footpath walkable when the marsh is wet, encouraging users to remain on the path and reducing the risk of disturbing ground nesting birds.
£1,353
Wildflower meadow, Thornham
Transforming a 17-acre field into an accessible wildflower meadow, Thornham Jubilee Meadow, with 2.8ha of new species-rich wildflower grassland, long grass margins for wildlife, a new and restored hedgerow, and a memorial tree garden.
£14,000
Mowing equipment, Somerton & Winterton
Purchase of mowing equipment to improve wildlife habitat quality and connectivity, by enabling long-term mowing of meadows at West Somerton and Winterton-on-Sea at optimal times for wildlife and harvesting wildflower seed.
£1,866
Mowing equipment, Burnham Norton
Purchase of mowing equipment and hedge cutter at saffron producer Norfolk Saffron to enable long-term enhancements and management of grassland, hedgerow and orchard habitats for increased biodiversity and carbon capture.
£3,551
Access improvements, RSPB Snettisham
Drainage works and road repairs to alleviate flooding to improve the main access track to Snettisham RSPB Reserve and Kings Lynn Angling Association fishing lakes which has historically been restricted following winter flooding.
£5,000
Hedgerow planting, Wighton
Planting 2,152m of new mixed native species hedgerow over two winters to create new habitat, benefit climate change and connectivity of other habitats on Copys Green Farm, as part of biodiversity enhancements.
£10,811
Biodiversity audit, River Mun
A biodiversity audit of the River Mun by the UEA Ecology Team to produce a baseline of species and habitats, including protected species and priority habitats for conservation, to guide management of the river corridor.
£29,510
Support for a farm cluster, Mun Catchment Group
Facilitation support for 4-6 months to bring together neighbouring farmers and landowners to create a farm cluster to develop landscape/catchment scale schemes to support river restoration and species recovery around the River Mun.
£3,920
Equipment & training for farm cluster
New IT equipment (laptop and tablet), administrative help with the website, and training courses. The North Norfolk Coastal Group Farm Cluster brings together farmers and land managers to develop projects to improve biodiversity.
£2,341
New covers for drying Norfolk reed, Cley
Eight new heavyweight locally sourced covers to support a local reed cutter to be able to cover stacks of cut reed on site while it dries out, in order to replace old covers and to cover longer piles of reed after cutting at Cley Marshes.
£2,265
Materials for new benches, National Trail
New materials required to provide 60 new wooden benches on the Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path National Trail for installation in 2023, following a survey of the path to identify gaps and locations for the new benches.
£1,988
Nitrogen uptake using seaweed, Norfolk Seaweed
A pilot study on 3.2ha of farmland, adding seaweed-based bio stimulants & beneficial biostimulants for planting spring barley to increase nitrogen uptake efficiency and minimise excess nitrogen run down to environmental water basin.
£4,200
*Figures show the amount of Farming in Protected Landscape grant awarded to projects.
