Farmers and land managers across Northern Ireland are being invited to apply for a new landscape-scale environmental scheme that will fund collaborative projects bringing together up to 50 participants per project. The Farming with Nature Landscape Projects Scheme, announced by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir on 29 September 2026, represents the next phase of the department’s post-Brexit agricultural transition programme.
The competitive fund will support up to ten ambitious projects designed to restore nature at scale, enhance habitat connectivity, and help priority species recover. Applications open on 9 November 2026 and close less than a month later on 4 December.
What the scheme offers
The Landscape Projects Scheme differs from existing farm support programmes by requiring groups to work together across land boundaries. Rather than individual farmers applying for standalone payments, constituted groups or public bodies must nominate a Project Coordinator to develop proposals that demonstrate measurable environmental outcomes.
Successful projects will receive three types of support:
- Development funding for administration, habitat assessment and mapping, facilitation, monitoring and evaluation, and farmer training
- A capital grant for co-designed “bespoke landscape actions” tailored to improve biodiversity and habitat connectivity
- Participation payments for farmers attending training and monitoring events, plus additional payments for hosting environmental monitoring on their land
Participating farm businesses must hold a DAERA Category 1 or 2 Business Identification Number—a requirement that may exclude smaller or part-time farmers who do not meet these registration criteria.
Minister’s statement
Launching the scheme during 2026 Environment Week at Stormont, Minister Muir said:
“I’m delighted to announce that the Farming with Nature Landscape Projects Scheme, will open for project proposals on 9 November.
“Protecting and restoring our natural environment is one of my key priorities. The Farming with Nature Package is an example of this, supporting the scaling up of nature friendly farming, to help deliver environmental benefits, public good and more sustainable food production.
“We intend to support up to ten ambitious landscape projects across Northern Ireland, each bringing together potentially up to 50 farmers and land managers to work together to enhance biodiversity recovery and habitat connectivity.”
He continued:
“Delivering meaningful biodiversity recovery requires action at a landscape scale, recognising that many environmental challenges cannot be addressed through individual farm-level interventions alone.
“The scheme will support and encourage effective collaboration between farmers, land managers and other stakeholders, working together across boundaries to create larger, better-connected habitats and deliver lasting environmental benefits for nature, climate and society.
“By enhancing habitat networks and improving ecological connectivity, the scheme will also support the recovery of priority species, helping to build ecological resilience and create a more sustainable environment in which farming and nature can thrive together.”
Context: the Farming with Nature Package
The Landscape Projects Scheme sits within DAERA’s broader Farming with Nature Package, which is itself part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP). This programme is replacing EU Common Agricultural Policy funding mechanisms following Brexit.
The SAP has a total budget exceeding £330 million annually, with £329.4 million earmarked for 2025/26 from the NI Executive’s block grant. However, DAERA has not specified what portion of this budget is allocated specifically to the Landscape Projects Scheme, nor has it indicated the value of individual grants or participation payments.
The Farming with Nature Package began with the Farming with Nature Transition Scheme, which opened in 2025 and saw strong uptake—more than 1,700 applications in 2026, a 94% increase on the previous year. That scheme offers farmers up to £20,000 for individual environmental actions such as hedgerow planting, riparian buffers, and tree planting.
The Landscape Projects Scheme represents a shift from individual farm-level interventions to collaborative, landscape-scale delivery. Comparable landscape-scale initiatives elsewhere in the UK include England’s Landscape Recovery tier under the Environmental Land Management scheme and Scotland’s Nature Restoration Fund.
Key details and deadlines
- Application opens: Monday 9 November 2026
- Application closes: Friday 4 December 2026 at 5pm
- Maximum projects supported: 10
- Maximum participants per project: Up to 50 farmers and land managers
- Eligibility: DAERA Category 1 or 2 Business Identification Number required
- Application method: Online portal at FarmingwithNature@daera-ni.gov.uk
- Guidance available: From 28 September 2026 on the DAERA website
- Queries: FarmingwithNatureLandscapes@daera-ni.gov.uk
Questions and considerations
The announcement leaves several important questions unanswered:
- Funding clarity: What is the total budget for this specific scheme, and what funding levels can successful projects expect? The press release mentions only general DAERA Resource and Capital funds without specifying amounts.
- Accessibility: Will the Category 1 or 2 Business ID requirement exclude smaller, part-time, or new entrant farmers who may lack these formal registrations? This could limit the diversity of participants.
- Competitive process: With only ten projects funded and a short application window, what support will be available for unsuccessful applicants, and how will DAERA ensure geographic spread across Northern Ireland?
- “Bespoke landscape actions”: The scheme description uses vague language about deliverables. What specific environmental outcomes will be required, and how will success be measured?
- Stakeholder engagement: A stakeholder forum formed in June 2024 has provided input into the Farming with Nature Package. What feedback has shaped this specific scheme, and how have farmer and environmental perspectives been balanced?
What happens next
Full guidance, scoring criteria and application materials will be published on the DAERA website from 28 September 2026. Given the competitive nature of the fund and the tight four-week application window, potential applicants—particularly farmer-led groups—will need to move quickly to develop proposals.
The scheme represents a significant test of whether collaborative, landscape-scale environmental delivery can work in Northern Ireland’s fragmented agricultural landscape. Its success will depend on whether sufficient farmers are willing to work across boundaries, and whether the funding offered proves attractive enough to justify the administrative burden of coordination.
According to DAERA’s 2024 emissions data, agriculture was responsible for 31.4% of Northern Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions. With environmental pressures mounting—from water quality crises to biodiversity loss—the pressure is on for schemes like this to demonstrate tangible results.