Thanks to the support of the DEFRA Farming in Protected Landscapes (FIPL) programme, farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills National Landscape have been able to create a legacy that goes beyond food production. This week, DEFRA announced their continued commitment to the FiPL programme, which includes funding for 2025/26.
Since it started in 2021, the Surrey Hills FiPL programme has engaged with over 250 farmers and landowners, implemented 35 flood reduction projects, facilitated 200 educational visits, and improved soil health across more than 3,600 hectares of land. This is set within the national context where the programme has awarded over 3,700 projects including the planting of 204,000 trees and 184 miles of new hedgerow. Together, these initiatives are not only securing the future of local farms but also enhancing the environment for wildlife and people alike.
Jim Simmons, Chair of Surrey National Farmer’s Union said.
“We are delighted by the news that DEFRA will continue their investment in the FiPL programme. The funding that the Surrey Hills team have provided to local farmers has been instrumental in supporting the legacy of our farming industry. The impact this programme has made further exemplifies the vital role our farmers play in managing, maintaining and enhancing our landscapes.”
Mark Frost’s Story: Norbury Park Farm
One farmer who has felt the transformative impact of the FIPL programme is Mark Frost of Norbury Park Farm. Faced with devastating and ongoing losses to his dairy herd from Neospora, an untreatable parasite spread through dog waste, Mark applied for FiPL funding. His hedge planting project will improve biodiversity across the farm by providing a thriving habitat for wildlife whilst helping to better manage visitor and livestock interactions. He has already planted 1.3 km of new hedgerows alongside some of the grazing fields by the River Mole. The hedges were planted by volunteers, including Surrey’s Youth Offer team, an organisation providing employment opportunities for young people who have been part of the criminal justice system.
“Everybody who works or is involved on our family farm is so proud that this project came to fruition,” Mark shared. “The fencing will be a life changer for all of us, and the hedge planting will encourage an abundance of wildlife. We were blown away by how helpful everybody at the Surrey Hills was—from completing the paperwork to organising volunteers to plant the hedges. This project is a lifeline for farmers like us who are facing some of the toughest financial pressures we’ve ever seen. We are extremely grateful.”
Restoring a Pond, Restoring a Purpose
Another shining example of the wider impact of the programme is the restoration of an ancient dairy pond on the Hampton Estate, pictured above. Overgrown and inaccessible, the pond has been transformed with FIPL funding into a vibrant habitat for wildlife but also an educational resource and accessible destination for visitors.
Now known as the King’s Pond, the project included re-sculpting the pond and creating habitat both in and around the water, creating wheelchair-accessible paths and a dipping platform, and developing age-specific educational materials for children. Already, the pond has welcomed visitors, earning praise for its dual role as a habitat and learning site.
“Without FIPL funding, the restoration of this ancient pond would have been difficult” said Bridget Biddell from the Hampton Estate. “The funding has not only enabled the restoration of a freshwater habitat but has also given the pond a contemporary purpose. With signs and a dipping platform, the pond is now used by children and adults to learn and get excited about pond life.”
The success of these projects underscores the critical role that farmers play—not just as food producers, but as stewards of the land. Farmers and landowners in the Surrey Hills, supported by DEFRA and the FIPL programme, have proven to be champions of wildlife, landscape conservation and community education.
“Thank you to our Surrey Hills farmers for making a difference, and we are thrilled to hear that DEFRA will continue their support and investment in this programme.” Rob Fairbanks, Director of the Surrey Hills National Landscape expressed. “Together, we’re securing the future—for food, wildlife, and generations to come.”
As these projects continue to inspire and protect, it’s clear that the Surrey Hills farmers are planting the seeds of a brighter future for all. Read the 2024/25 National report here.
If you are a farmer or landowner in the Surrey Hills National Landscape and would like to apply to the next funding cycle with a project delivering for people, nature, place and climate, get in touch here.
