£150m of Capital Grants Announced in England

Defra has announced the reopening of a new round (open for applications from today) of its Capital Grants offer worth £150m to help farmers and land managers in England invest in "nature-friendly farming" and improve productivity, sustainability and resilience.

The announcement was made during Groundswell, where Environment Secretary Steve Reed also delivered his speech.

Farmers and land managers can apply for a total of 78 items under the latest round, including four new items on woodland condition, wildlife management, stone walls and educational visits.

Capital grants are three-year agreements offering options to achieve specific environmental benefits within six groups. An application can include items from each of these groups:

• boundaries, trees and orchards (£35,000 max. funding limit)

• improved water quality (£25,000 max. funding limit)

• improved air quality (£25,000 max. funding limit)

• improved natural flood management (£25,000 max. funding limit)

• assessments, e.g. a wildfire checklist

• improvements, e.g. education access visits

You can use the capital grant finder tool on the gov.uk website to look up options. You may need approval from a Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) adviser for water and air quality capital items.

Following the sudden closure of the previous round in November 2024, we note that this round will close when the available funding is committed.

The reopening of the scheme is a welcome opportunity to take stock and plan investments that align with both business goals and environmental priorities. Our advisors can help design a plan and guide you through the application process. If you’re considering applying, or simply want to understand what funding is available and how it could fit your farming business, get in touch - we’re here to help.

📞 Call the office on 01480 890686 or speak to your usual advisor.