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The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is a 4-year Defra funded programme running in all of the English National Parks and National Landscapes until March 2025. 

Through this the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Partnership offers grants to farmers and landowners for projects which deliver benefits to nature, climate, people and place.

Grants over £10,000 are decided by a Local Assessment Panel, and a vacancy has arisen for a farmer to join the Panel for the remaining 12 months of the programme.  Panel members should have a good understanding of the delivery of nature, climate and public benefits by farming and managing land in the Shropshire Hills. 

Panel members will be required to undertake training and follow guidance, read a significant number of applications and attend Panel meetings for decision-making (about every 6-8 weeks).  This is a formal role with responsibility for awarding contractual grants through Shropshire Council as accountable body, and is governed by Defra guidance.  There is a process for any declaration of interests.  It is essentially a voluntary role but non-salaried members are able to claim a set contribution towards costs.

If you have experience of farming and delivering public benefits through farming, and would like to support the delivery of this national programme within the Shropshire Hills then we would be pleased to hear from you.  

Please make an initial expression of interest to joy.howells@shropshire.gov.uk with your name and contact details and we will respond with a short application form.  Deadline for applications is Friday 12th April 2024. The successful applicant would be encouraged to attend the next Local Assessment Panel meeting on 23rd April 2024, 2pm in Craven Arms.

more about the programme