This spring, Defra will be inviting applications for the second round of the Landscape Recovery scheme.

Ahead of this, Defra is running webinars to engage with farmers during February and March.

The webinars will be an opportunity to learn more about the upcoming scheme, ask questions and share ideas for scheme development. The three sessions detailed below will cover the same information: Thursday, February 23, 8-9.30am; Tuesday, February 28, 7-8.30pm; and Wednesday, March 8, 12.30-2pm.

The Landscape Recovery (LR) scheme is one of the Environmental Land Management schemes, which funds landscape scale projects through bespoke, long-term agreements that extend beyond 20-plus years.

The scheme aims to support large-scale land use change for the long-term with funding from public and private sources, producing environmental and climate outcomes through habitat and ecosystem restoration.

Landscape scale projects using public and private funding is a new approach. The scheme will develop and test how to deliver and administer such innovative schemes.

All land managers and landowners are eligible to apply, as well as farmers. Public bodies can apply where they are in a collaboration with private land managers.

The first LR round was open to any individuals or groups who wanted to come together to deliver large-scale (500-5000ha) projects. Defra approved 22 projects, which aim to restore nearly 700km of rivers and protect and enhance 263 species across over 40,000 hectares.

Projects in round two will need to exceed 500ha targeting net zero, protected sites and habitat creation. In this round Defra is looking for 25 projects to take forward in to development. Sites could be provided by any landowner or land manager, including individuals, organisations and collaborative groups.

Land in an existing scheme can be included, although Defra will not pay for the same activity twice. Defra will develop and test the process for exiting Higher Level Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship agreements early – without penalty – so they can enter Landscape Recovery.

Successful applications will then go into project development. At the end of this project development phase, successful projects will secure a long-term funding agreement. To keep up to date on Defra’s plans for Landscape Recovery, subscribe to the blog at GOV.UK Future Farming.