New Welsh government scheme funds nature-friendly farming
© Adobe Stock The Welsh government has launched a new scheme to support farmers working in the country’s national parks and national landscapes to support nature recovery.
Providing £1.8m to the Ffermio Bro: (Farming in Designated Landscapes) scheme, the government hopes to encourage nature-friendly farming practices, bringing together farmers and local bodies responsible for such areas, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
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Launching the scheme, Wales deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: “Our national parks and national landscapes are truly special and unique.
“While our landscape bodies have a responsibility to look after these precious areas, our farmers living and working in them know them best.”
He added that a whole-country approach is needed to tackle the nature emergency, and the scheme will support farmers to work together, allowing nature to thrive alongside the sustainable production of food.
Ffermio Bro will help inform and target the “collaborative” layer of the impending Sustainable Farming Scheme.
The scheme is also set to support the delivery of the Welsh government’s commitment to protect 30% of land, freshwater and seas for nature by 2030 (30by30) by funding a wide range of collaborative projects such as:
- Planting of low-density woodland, such as Ffridd
- Measures to improve rivers and wetlands
- Fencing and activities to facilitate grazing and improve upland grasslands
- Creating hay meadows
- Reducing carbon emissions on farms
- Improving and promoting access routes and permissive paths
- Improving peatland
- Protecting traditional landscape features such as hedgerows, stone and slate walls
The first projects are expected to begin this summer, with the majority delivered between September 2025 and January 2026.
As well as enabling activity on farms, the funding will support Ffermio Bro advisers, based within the landscape bodies, who will work closely with farmers on collaborative projects and signpost them to other support available.
Industry response
Fraser McAuley, senior policy advisor at CLA Cymru, welcomed the scheme.
“Farmers are already doing vital work to manage these landscapes for food, nature and heritage – and they need support that works with them, not around them.”
Mr McAuley said the scheme recognises that local knowledge and collaboration are key to improving biodiversity, restoring features such as hedgerows and walls, and protecting uplands.
“Practical advice, flexible funding and clear links and alignment to the Sustainable Farming Scheme will be essential to make this work on the ground,” he added.
Rhys Evans, NFFN Cymru manager, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for the Welsh Government to trial more innovative approaches to agri-environment schemes.
“We know that more transformative and targeted action across wider areas of Wales are needed to meet targets on mitigating climate change, reversing nature’s decline and creating resilient food production systems.”
He added that it was essential that the scheme is properly funded, with adequate payment rates to ensure high uptake among farmers.
Meirionnydd beef and sheep farmer Alun Edwards however was sceptical of the scheme and funding pot allocated. “As always with Welsh government schemes, the devil will be in the detail.
“The budget seems very small at £1.8m over 3 Parks, if it is to fund the ‘cohort of advisers’ as well as aiding frontline deliverers – farmers.”