Farming in Protected Landscapes grants can be used to support a wide variety of conservation projects within the Isle of Wight National Landscape. Last year Farmers, Landowners and Parish Councils applied for grants to work on a variety of projects:
- Restoration of ponds improving habitats for wildlife
- Hedgerow and tree planting to restore and create new field boundaries whilst increasing biodiversity
- Refurbishment of village allotments for community growing
- Woodland and scrub management for the priority species Reddish Buff Moth
- Propagation of Small leaved lime
- Restoration of historic farm buildings for heritage, business and recreation
- Wildlife monitoring and surveying equipment for education and reporting
Featured projects:
Small leaved Lime
Once the most common tree throughout lowland England the Small-leaved Lime is now found in only one or perhaps two locations on the Island. In its West Wight stronghold magnificent trees can be found in a small ancient woodland alongside an historic parish boundary with large Wytch Elm growing alongside. Coppiced many years ago the trees are tall, mature and multi stemmed.
With the aid of a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant Ventnor Botanic Garden are working on a propagation project to ensure to ensure this rare tree can be given a carefully considered wider distribution, cuttings will be taken and a new stock grown up at Ventnor Botanic Garden.
Pond restoration
Typically, water levels in ponds tend to reduce as silt builds up and adjacent trees grow up creating excessive shade. The pond’s value for wildlife can decline with a change from open sunlit water to a shaded damp hollow. To reverse this natural process ponds need periodic silt removal and the tree/shrub cover reduced. Restoration enables the cycle to restart partially creating the conditions when the pond was first dug.
12 ponds were restored across the Isle of Wight National Landscape thanks to Farming in Protected Landscape grants, including a farm near Newtown Harbour National Nature Reserve where 6 ponds were restored, helping to conserve wildlife and the farm’s historic landscape.
As featured on the National Landscapes Association website – National Landscapes – Island Pond Restoration on the Isle of Wight
Garlic Farm Market Garden
Soil Association Organic Certified growers – The Garlic Farm – have expanded their produce with a no-dig market garden. A Farming in Protected Landscapes Grant contributed towards the setup of a Market Garden with opportunities for the local community to get involved.
Learn more about no-dig growing and the benefits for soil structure on the Garlic Farm website – A Garlic Lover’s Garden – The Garlic Farm
Historic Barn Restoration at Stenbury Manor
Conserving the historic environment and supporting farmland business within the National Landscape; Newbarn farm at Stenbury Manor forms the centre of commercial sheep farming activities across c. 450 acres of land. A Farming in Protected Landscapes grant was awarded to enable:
- Preservation of an attractive set of late 18th / early 19th farm buildings set in a particularly attractive and unspoilt Island farmstead in the heart of the Isle of Wight National Landscape.
- Support the commercial operations of a viable Island traditional livestock farming operation
- Enhance the experience of those accessing and enjoying the Isle of Wight National Landscape via Bridleway 50 (which passes the farm buildings)
The project involved the repair and weatherproofing of a range of traditional late 18th / early 19th Island-Stone built agricultural barns, which comprise a major part of a traditional farmyard. The newly restored barns support the ongoing farm operation by housing livestock and associated farm machinery.
Wroxall Allotments
Wroxall Parish Council applied for a grant to improve pathways making it safer for local residents and those with visual impairments to access the 16 allotments. An Isle of Wight National Landscape Farming in Protected Landscapes grant made it possible to improve slippery and uneven paths that previously did not adhere to accessibility standards. The project was also supported by the Probation Service Community Payback scheme.
Hedgelaying Competition
Supporting traditional heritage crafts, improving biodiversity and creating functional boundaries for farmland; a Farming in Protected Landscapes grant was awarded to support education, promotion and delivery of the annual Isle of Wight Hedgelaying Competition.
A popular and well supported day, the farming community can feel pretty isolated in the winter months, this event gives people the opportunity to meet up. Open to anyone wanting to participate in hedgelaying and spectators wanting to support and learn about the countryside and this historic craft. It also encourages people to get out and socialise during a cold and ‘stay in doors’ time of the year.
Countryside and landscape management for improved biodiversity and habitats, is key to the increase and survival of many wildlife, birds, mammals and insects. This event helped to raise awareness for this cause. As well as the immediate improvement of the hedge being laid.
Facts and Figures 2025/26
Grant recipients have been busy over the last year planting, laying, building, restoring and trialling new projects for the benefit of nature, heritage and farming practices. Training and advice have been undertaken, farming equipment purchased and hundreds of metres of hedging and fences created:
- Ponds restored – 12
- Hedgerow restoration – 367 metres
- Hedgerow creation – 610 metres
- Trees planted – 112
- Historic buildings – 2
- Marketing Garden – 1
- Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) Grass restoration – 1.9 Hectares
- Volunteer tools – 4
- Improving access – 1
- Farm equipment – 1
Farming in Protected Landscapes 2025-2026 Grant Recipients
| Business name | Town | Grant Awarded | Total Project cost | Project End date | Project |
| Stenbury Manor Farming | Whitwell | £29,573 | £65,060 | 15/03/26 | Restoration of historic farm buildings |
| Isle of Wight National Landscape | Ventnor | £6,192 | £6,192 | 15/03/26 | Propagation of Small-leaved Lime Trees |
| Little East Standen Farm | Downend | £2,655 | £2,655 | 05/11/2025 | Restoration of historic pond |
| Wroxall Parish Council | Wroxall | £1,476 | £3,329 | 20/01/2026 | Refurbishment of allotments |
| Isle of Wight Natural History & Archaeology Society | Calbourne | £545 | £604 | 31/03/2026 | Tools for woodland management. |
| Redhill Farm | Wroxall | £57,661 | £72,076. | 15/03/2026 | Restoration of historic farm building |
| Compton Farm Partnership | Brook | £1,879 | £4,804 | 05/01/2026 | Pond restoration. |
| Landowner | Cranmore | £2,850 | £2,850 | 18/12/2025 | Woodland and scrub management for the Reddish Buff moth. |
| Sibbecks Park Farm | Whitwell | £5,195 | £5195 | 15/03/2026 | Hedge laying and gapping up. |
| Adgestone Vineyard | Adgestone | £18,040 | £48,396 | 15/03/2026 | Construction of agricultural storage building |
| Homestead Farm | Porchfield | £4,565 | £4,565 | 03/12/2025 | Pond restoration including tree works. |
| South Thorness Farm | Thorness | £1,133 | £13,933 | 19/01/2026 | Set up equipment and plants for Elder production. |
| GH&EM Ablitt | Porchfield | £11,277 | £11,277 | 15/03/2025 | Multiple pond restorations. |
| The Garlic Farm | Newchurch | £1,623 | £5,143 | 15/01/2026 | Market Garden set up. |
| D Brown and Partners | Niton | £3,507 | £3,507 | 15/03/2025 | Pond restoration and tree planting. |
| RJ Farms | Atherfield | £1,879 | £1,879 | 15/03/2025 | Pond Restoration |
| Lynn Farm | Wootton | £1,879 | £1,879 | 15/03/2026 | Pond Restoration |
| Godshill Park Farm | Godshill | £21,789 | £24,615 | 15/03/2026 | Hedge and tree planting |
| Dean Farm Partnership | Whitwell | £2,518 | £2,518 | 15/03/2026 | Hedge laying |
| April Cottage | Alum Bay | £4,862 | £7,008 | 29/12/2025 | Fencing to reinstate sheep grazing |
| Moorhills Farm | Whitwell | £ 7589 | £7,647 | 15/03/2026 | Tree planting, pond restoration. Woodland management |
| Lynn Farm | Downend | £1,879 | £1,879 | 15/03/2026 | Pond Restoration |
| Dean Farm | Whitwell | £2,519 | £2,519 | 15/03/2026 | Hedge Laying |
| Landowner | Cranmore | £637 | £637 | 15/03/2026 | Moth Trap equipment |
| Isle of Wight Bat Group | National Landscape | £3,952 | £3,952 | 15/03/2026 | Bat surveying equipment |
| Wight Rural Hub | National Landscape | £9,560 | £11,950 | 15/03/2026 | Event management equipment |
2026-2027 Grants Now Available
The grant scheme is running again in 2026 and applications are now open. Go to the Farming in Landscapes grant page for more information – Farming in Protected Landscapes – Isle of Wight National Landscape