It has been announced today that the Farming Recovery Fund has been extended, enabling farmers affected by flooding to apply for grants of between £500 and £25,000 for restoring farmland. The scheme was already in place for farmers in affected areas that were flooded during 2019 with the scheme extension put in place to help farmers affected by flooding during the first two months of 2020.
Prior to this extension, in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, it was only farmers who had been flooded along the River Avon between Evesham and Tewkesbury that were able to apply.
The extension to the fund specifically mentions Gloucestershire and Worcestershire and therefore it is anticipated that others affected by the floods, potentially those along the River Severn, may be able to apply. We are still awaiting full details of the exact areas in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire that will be able to apply following the announcement and as soon as further details are known we will post these.
Examples of funding available include:
- Cultivation operations for the restoration of grassland – £66/ha
- Cost of grass seed for over-seeding – £100/ha
- Cultivation operations for the restoration of arable/horticultural land – £94/ha
- Restoring gateways – £92/gateway
- Replacing lost or damaged livestock troughs – £110
The extension of the scheme offers an additional £6 million in funding taking the total pot of the Farming Recovery Fund offered so far up to £10 million.
For those affected, ensuring you have records and evidence to support your claim will be essential. If you were affected by flooding and require assistance in making a Farming Recovery Fund application please do not hesitate to contact Mike Cluley on 01684 853400 or by email mikecluley@carverknowles.co.uk .