£1.8m scheme to support nature-friendly farming in Wales’ Protected Landscapes

Daniel Bevan - Senior Journalist

A new £1.8 million funding scheme has been launched to support farmers working in Wales’ National Parks and National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) to deliver nature-positive projects and enhance the unique rural environments in which they live and work.

The Ffermio Bro: Farming in Designated Landscapes scheme was formally launched this week by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, during a visit to Upper Meend Farm in the Wye Valley. The scheme will back collaborative, nature-friendly farming approaches that protect biodiversity, enhance the landscape, and support the long-term sustainability of rural communities.

“Our National Parks and National Landscapes are truly special and unique,” said the Deputy First Minister. “While our landscape bodies have a responsibility to look after these precious areas, our farmers living and working in them know them best.”

“That’s why Ffermio Bro has partnership working at its heart to deliver bigger and better projects across our landscapes, because a whole-Wales approach is needed to tackle the nature emergency. This scheme will support farmers to work together, allowing nature to thrive alongside the sustainable production of food across our finest landscapes.”

Designed to complement the upcoming Sustainable Farming Scheme, Ffermio Bro will also help shape its Collaborative Layer, which aims to direct future funding to strategic environmental partnerships.

Funded by the Welsh Government, the scheme supports the national 30by30 target—a pledge to protect 30% of land, freshwater, and sea for nature by 2030.

Projects Eligible for Support Include:

Planting of low-density woodland (e.g., Ffridd)
Enhancing rivers and wetlands
Grazing management and upland grassland restoration
Creation of species-rich hay meadows
Carbon emission reduction initiatives
Access improvement (permissive paths, walking routes)
Peatland restoration

Preservation of traditional features (hedgerows, stone walls, slate fencing)

The first projects are expected to start this summer, with the majority running between September 2025 and January 2026.

Farmers will also benefit from on-the-ground support via a dedicated team of Ffermio Bro advisers embedded within National Park and National Landscape bodies. These advisers will provide practical help in delivering collaborative projects and signpost farmers to other available funding streams.

The Deputy First Minister added: “We know which interventions will benefit nature, but places like National Parks are also about culture, traditions, and providing wonderful experiences for the wider community.”

“Repairing stone walls and slate fences, improving routes for walkers and other users, and helping preserve historic features on our farms will have a big impact – allowing local people and visitors alike to take full advantage of discovering, enjoying and understanding our incredible landscapes.”

Ffermio Bro represents a new chapter in nature-focused rural development, giving farmers a central role in shaping Wales’ most treasured landscapes for the benefit of future generations.