Online talk: Species-rich Grasslands: how could SFI 2024 help to create and manage these biodiverse habitats

[Donna Cox]

Join the Meadow-Makers Network's online talk:

Species-rich Grasslands: how could SFI 2024 help to create and manage these biodiverse habitats?
7pm online, 18th November

Defra's Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes incentivises farmers and landowners to protect and promote nature-friendly farming alongside food production. But with no lower area limit, SFI 2024 Actions are available to all landowners, including those not actively farming, who wish to promote biodiversity and generate some income. This informative online workshop will focus on species-rich meadows and discuss:

• Landuse, eligibility and definitions for species-rich habitats under SFI 2024

• The management requirements of various SFI 2024 Actions suitable for species-rich habitats

• The income potential of various SFI 2024 Actions

• Next steps for any landowners considering SFI 2024 to maintain or develop their species-rich habitat

NB: This is a free online event but you'll need to have an SBI number to benefit from DEFRA support and to register for this event. To find out how to get an SBI number, if you don't already have one, see the note below.

Book here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/species- ... tdtcreator

How to obtain a Single Business Identifier number (SBI) to access DEFRA’s services, including this presentation:
Formerly you had to have at least 5 hectares of agricultural land to benefit from agri-environment payments. But not any more. The new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is a scheme that pays farmers & landowners in England to adopt and maintain sustainable farming practices, including the creation and maintenance of species-rich grassland, which is a UK Priority Habitat. Even if you are managing just a couple of acres of species-rich meadows, or are working to restore one, you can apply. In order to get an SBI number you need to phone the Rural Payments Service on 03000 200301. They will give you a Customer Reference Number and a security code that lets you complete your registration on their website. Your SBI number will then appear with your registered details. We’re sorry this administrative step has to be taken to watch the presentation, but to apply for any payments under the Sustainable Farming Initiative you will need an SBI anyway, so if you don’t already have one you can get this procedure out of the way now. There are lots of other options available under SFI to enhance biodiversity, including hedge laying funding, so it's worth getting an SBI if you can.

[Paul O]

Phew !- I registered for my SFI number then went to the event web page where it states "This workshop is available to any farmer or land manager in Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, or the Isles of Scilly currently in receipt of BPS payments" (which I'm not). Reading through a small fraction of the gov.uk SFI pages made me think you need to be a special type of person to get through the documentation, learn the rules and work out whether it's likely to be worth all the time it takes to achieve a successful application...or am I taking all the rules too strictly?

[AlmaSwan]

Hi Paul, I've just spoken to the people who will be delivering this talk. it was agreed that the information on the Eventbrite page is somewhat confusing and contradictory so please don't worry about the eligibility statement there.

The purpose of the talk is to help us all understand what steps have to be taken to apply for and (hopefully) get the payments. I agree it all looks very daunting, but that's why we decided to arrange this talk. The people delivering it are funded by DEFRA to help farmers and landowners find their way through the maze.

The talk should enlighten us but in addition they have built in ample time for questions. The session runs for two hours from 7-9 pm: you never know, by 10 pm we may all have applied and be in receipt of funds!

[AlmaSwan]

Further to my comment above, here is the formal reply I have now received from Business Information Point, who will be delivering the talk:
"That [the eligibility statement] is a legacy statement from when the FFR project, which is providing your workshop, was set up: those terms and conditions were originally in place to restrict support to those considered to need it most. The restrictions have now been removed, so any landowners can have support, regardless of landholding size and receipt of previous BPS. The geographical spread is still valid, as our FFR project covers those areas, but any farmer or landowner can come to our workshops, wherever they are living in England, as long as we have enough who are in the SW to make it a valid workshop for ourselves (which we do, in this case). "

The upshot is that we can all enjoy the talk and hopefully benefit from the advice that will be given.

[Paul O]

Thanks for that, Alma. I've now registered for the event: I just had to invent a name for my "business" and state that the area of my non-existent farm is 1.8 ha - 2 untruths before I've even applied for any funding!
Maybe someone should publish a list of all the rules, with each one being marked as to whether it's really a rule or not .