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A new free toolkit has been created to increase farmers’ understanding of nature markets and their potential to support grassland restoration.
Species-rich grasslands can deliver enormous benefits for wildlife, biodiversity and the climate. With approximately 97% of the UK’s species-rich grassland lost in less than a century, we are working with farmers to protect and restore them.
To support farmers working to restore and manage species-rich grassland, we have developed our first grassland-specific toolkit.
It is a free, accessible resource created to support farmers, farm advisers and other land managers to make informed decisions around what finance options, including emerging nature markets, could support their grassland restoration ambitions. It’s hoped the toolkit will also increase the understanding of the value of grasslands on farmers’ landholdings.
This is the first grassland-specific ecosystem services toolkit of its type. It explores the types of grassland, soil, grazing and cutting regimes within farming systems and highlights a range of emerging private finance opportunities that could help a transition to a more regenerative grassland management approach.
Farmers can use the toolkit to determine the type of grassland they have, the required management regime and the funding opportunities available. We’ve shared case studies to show the real world applications of using private finance mechanisms to deliver for grasslands.
The toolkit, created in partnership with funding from the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF), also signposts to the more well-established funding mechanisms offered through agri-environment.
A mechanism, like this toolkit, will help more people understand the importance of species-rich grassland in delivering ecosystem services. It will also increase understanding of nature markets, enabling funding that protects, restores, creates and manages this valuable habitat.
We hope the project will lead to greater recognition of the important role farming can play in maintaining the ecosystem functions of grasslands.
As we go, we are continuing to explore how we can look to pilot the toolkit with farmers in England and to identify research opportunities to fill some of the evidence gaps in how grasslands can deliver for ecosystem services.
If you are interested in finding out more, please click on the link below.
The toolkit
Please tell us what you think
Have you used the toolkit? We are very keen to hear from people who have used the toolkit and whether you’ve found it helpful. Please take 5 minutes to tell us what you think.
We would like to thank all the partners involved in the production of the toolkit – National Landscape Association, Finance Earth, Floodplain Meadows Partnership, Pasture for Life, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Natural England, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Soil Association and Soil Association Exchange.
This project would also not have been possible without support from farmers who took the time to talk to us, attend workshops online and in person – your input helped to guide the content of the toolkit.
Funding from the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) enabled the production of the toolkit.
Plantlife is bringing about a transformation in the way Britain’s road verges are managed, with the aim of at least 50% of verges being managed as species-rich grassland.
Meadow Makers is a partnership project, led by Plantlife, that restored over 400 hectares of species-rich grassland across England and involved over 12,000 people in meadow making.
To restore our native wildflowers, councils need to make long-term commitments to transforming their management of road verges. Have a look at the amazing work done by local authorities.
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