A free, first-of-its-kind guide to navigating public and private finance for grassland restoration and management.
INTRODUCTION
Grassland covers 40% of England, yet only a small fraction of this is the species-rich habitat that is vital for the UK’s nature recovery and sustainable agriculture goals. These precious ecosystems deliver significant benefits for climate, nature, and communities.
Despite their importance, accessing finance to restore and manage them can be complex, with farmers facing a maze of public schemes and emerging private nature markets.
To address this, a partnership led by Plantlife, the National Landscapes Association, Finance Earth, the Floodplain Meadows Partnership, and farmer-led organisations Pasture for Life, the Soil Association/Soil Association Exchange, and the Nature Friendly Farming Network alongside Natural England and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology has launched the ‘Realising Grassland Potential’ toolkit.
With funding from the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF), the toolkit provides an accessible resource to empower farmers to make informed decisions about the opportunities offered by green finance and nature markets for their land.
Introducing the Grassland Toolkit
The toolkit is a comprehensive, practical guide designed to demystify the funding opportunities available for grassland creation, restoration, enhancement, and management. It moves beyond theory to provide actionable insights tailored for real-world farm operations.
The toolkit is designed to take farmers through a series of steps to increase understanding and knowledge of the range of options available for creating or improving grasslands as well as any associated risks. It enables informed decision making around options for their own landholding.
Key features include:
• Breakdowns of grassland funding available in public schemes like Countryside Stewardship (CS) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).
• An analysis of private finance options, including Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Grassland Carbon, Nutrient Neutrality, and Water Payments, ranked using a 'Market Readiness Assessment' to help farmers evaluate the risks and viability of different nature markets.
• Guidance on project development and how to 'stack' multiple funding sources for the same parcel of land.
• Real-world case studies and indicative cost estimates for different grassland interventions to help build a high-level business case.
Bruce Winney, Nature Recovery Lead, National Landscape Co-ordinator said: “We’re delighted to see the Grassland Toolkit take shape from a need first identified through the Big Chalk partnership. It’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved when partners come together with shared ambition. This toolkit will be a vital resource to help farmers and land managers across Big Chalk’s landscape, covering 20% of England, navigate the public and private routes to financing high-quality grassland restoration, supporting both nature recovery and resilient rural economies.”
Developed with farmers, for farmers
The project worked with farmers to understand the practical land use and revenue implications, ensuring the toolkit is grounded in the real-world experiences of farmers. The project partners engaged directly with the farming community through workshops and one-to-one interviews to ensure the guidance is practical, credible, and addresses key challenges.
The toolkit directly answers common questions from farmers, such as:
• How can I fund the maintenance of my existing species-rich grassland?
• Are these funding opportunities compatible with a productive farm business?
• How can I make sense of complex new markets and stack different payments?
James Hawkins, Herefordshire farmer said: “I was keen to be involved in developing the Grassland toolkit because I’ve seen first-hand how complex it can be for farmers to navigate new funding and nature market opportunities. This toolkit helps cut through that complexity — giving farmers clear, trusted information with practical tools and steps as to how to access support for managing their grasslands sustainably. It gives farmers the tools and confidence to connect with nature markets and funding schemes that recognise the value of their grasslands. At the same time empowering farmers to deliver environmental benefits while building resilient farm businesses.”
Access the Toolkit and share your feedback
The Grassland Toolkit is now available for free online.
The project partners are seeking feedback to improve and further develop this vital resource for the farming community.
• To access the toolkit, visit:
