Farmers to share in £4.5m grant for wetting lowland peats

Farmers and landowners across England can apply for new funding launched by the Environment Agency to improve water management in lowland peat areas.

Up to £4.5m is available through the Lowland Peat Water Discovery Grant, aimed at supporting more sustainable approaches to managing water in peatland farming regions.

See also: Flawed peat map risks land use and funding mistakes

The scheme will fund projects that explore how raising water tables could protect soils while maintaining agricultural productivity.

The grant will fund projects ranging from £50,000-£300,000.

It is designed to encourage collaboration between farmers, landowners and local organisations to assess future water management strategies.

Each project will produce a plan outlining how water tables could be raised safely and sustainably.

These plans will consider a range of land uses, including conventional farming, wetter farming methods and peatland restoration, while also assessing environmental risks and benefits.

The scheme will examine impacts such as reducing emissions, supporting wildlife and improving resilience to floods and drought. It will also identify the infrastructure required to maintain higher water levels.

Peatlands store more than half of England’s land-based carbon. When wet and healthy, they help “lock in carbon and support wildlife, cleaner water and natural flood protection,” according to Defra.

However, centuries of drainage for agriculture have left most lowland peatlands degraded.

As peat dries, it deteriorates, leading to soil loss, land subsidence and the release of carbon into the atmosphere.

Today, only a small proportion remains in a near-natural condition. Defra says, without intervention, some areas may only support current farming practices for “another 20 to 50 years”.

Projects are expected to conclude in 2028, after which participants may apply for further funding to implement their proposals.

Applications are open to charities, public bodies, land managers and businesses, provided they are part of a local partnership.

The deadline for submissions is 26 June 2026.

Interested parties can find out more information via a webinar held on 12 May by emailing peatwatergrants@environment-agency.gov.uk.