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Land management grants.
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Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sat Jan 07, 12 9:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

This year applications open march first.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Sat Mar 03, 12 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

https://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/csf/default.aspx

These are now open.

Specific areas, specific bits of work.

My advice would be to find out who your local rep is, it's listed on the site, and talk to them. Them, backing your bid, seems to help.

It's a very tick box exercise when it comes down to scoring, and a letter from them adds points.

They especially like, it would appear, you to co-bid with a neighbour, if possible.

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 10:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

We've been told, again, that there basically isn't a snowball in hells chance of being sucessful but we can apply, again, on the basis that it might be undersubscribed. However, reading the literature it seems to be essential to be a 'viable business', and when that relates to you, Nick, does that mean you just have to be a viable person, rather than a business, and not liable to bankrupt in the forseeable future?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 10:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tis a normal situation re postcode lottery tickbox gov way of doing things

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I discussed that bit with them. They said their concern was that I wouldn't go bust. My case was that as I owned the land, and it cost me nothing to run, and provide no financial output it was viable. They were entirely happy with that. They knew I was a 'hobby' farmer, although I have a SBI, because it's unaviodable, so technically a business. I have no accounts as such tho, so nothing to show them.

They can see the deeds, my salary cheque and vets bills, I guess.

I was defined as viable, because I'm not unviable.

Daft, yes.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack wrote:
tis a normal situation re postcode lottery tickbox gov way of doing things


Well, no. It's managed by Natural England, and have local people, who I found very helpful, both my locals reps, and the guys at HQ in Nottingham.

I assume you've now talked to the local rep? Ask them what you could do to increase your chances. My understanding is the system was under subscribed last year; I certainly didn't claim all they offered, for a variety of reasons.

ETA: Their main concern with letting me have money, was not giving it out, as such, but that the auditors would check stuff, so I needed to be able to match things on the form, whether it made sense, or not. So, I couldn't have a solar pump, even if this would save them �1200, and stop my cows shitting in the river, but I could claim to be a viable business, because, with no accounts, I couldn't actually go bust.

*That*, I suppose is a civil service hangover.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:


*That*, I suppose is a civil service hangover.


yes minister

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
I was defined as viable, because I'm not unviable.

Daft, yes.


Love it.

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
I assume you've now talked to the local rep? Ask them what you could do to increase your chances.


Yep, he was the one who told me that, because I'm not in the target area (but I am in a priority catchment) that there isn't much chance that it'll even be considered, but that applying for a rainwater tank alongside the concreteing, even though the benefits of the concreting would be halved, the rainwater tank would help as it was another 'priority'. So the moral of the story is that you're better off doing half a job but doing more of them. It has nothing to do with reducing pollution, everything to do with satisfying the EU.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46233
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 2:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

boggled

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 5:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Rob R wrote:
Nick wrote:
I assume you've now talked to the local rep? Ask them what you could do to increase your chances.


Yep, he was the one who told me that, because I'm not in the target area (but I am in a priority catchment) that there isn't much chance that it'll even be considered, but that applying for a rainwater tank alongside the concreteing, even though the benefits of the concreting would be halved, the rainwater tank would help as it was another 'priority'. So the moral of the story is that you're better off doing half a job but doing more of them. It has nothing to do with reducing pollution, everything to do with satisfying the EU.


Ask him if he'd back your case with a supporting letter, if you applied for both. It certainly helps. And you don't have to carry out all of the work. So, apply, with his backing, then do the bits you want.

Rob R



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York
PostPosted: Fri Apr 13, 12 5:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

He didn't seem that bothered if I applied or not tbh, because I'm not in the right area, and there's enough people that are. If I was in the uplands they'd be chucking money at us, but down here, nothing.

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