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Lapwing © David Patrick

Funding Extension for Successful Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme

19th March 2025

The Forest of Bowland National Landscape Partnership is excited to announce the extension of the Defra-funded Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme for an additional year, now running until the end of March 2026.Farming in Protected Landscapes Achievements infographic image

Since its launch in July 2021, this national initiative has involved over 7,000 farmers and land managers, supporting more than 4,600 projects in its first three years.

Grant funding is available for projects that align with Defra’s four themes: climate, nature, people and place, as well as the objectives outlined in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape Management Plan. The FiPL programme is delivered by Protected Landscapes across the country, including the dedicated team in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape.

Over the past four years in the Forest of Bowland, the programme has provided numerous benefits, including engaging with over 300 expressions of interest and delivering 167 successful projects. Through FiPL, farmers and land managers have been supported in initiatives that foster nature recovery, mitigate climate change impacts, provide opportunities for people to explore and enjoy the landscape and cultural heritage and deliver sustainable, nature-friendly farming practices.

One notable example is Croasdale Farm, a working upland beef and sheep farm committed to habitat management and educational outreach. Their successful application facilitated ecological surveys, the purchase of machinery for bracken management, educational access equipment and the creation and management of hedgerows and woodlands.

Other examples include the restoration of traditional barns, with new or restored windows and doors allowing continued agricultural use of these important landscape features. Additionally, three farms – as part of wider applications - received funding for equipment to enable direct sales of their own produce to the public.

Tarja Wilson, Forest of Bowland National Landscape FiPL Lead Officer said: "The team are looking forward to working with farmers and landowners to deliver a further year of the FiPL programme. On a local level, we have seen some great projects delivered, which will benefit both the environment and those within it. Our key strength is our team, which is made up of advisors who live in the area and have grown up on working farms. We'd love to work with new applicants to help a wider range of local farmers during these challenging times."

The Forest of Bowland National Landscape FiPL team will shortly be releasing further details about the programme extension.
In the meantime, we would encourage you to complete an Expression of Interest form on our website. https://www.forestofbowland.com/farming-protected-landscapes

Uncover Bowland's Beauty: The 2025 Discover Bowland Guide Awaits

27th February 2025

Discover Bowland Guide CoverThe Forest of Bowland National Landscape team is excited to announce the launch of its 2025 ‘Discover Bowland’ Guide. This essential guide is perfect for anyone looking to make the most of their time in Bowland, whether you are a local eager to explore new areas or a visitor wanting to delve into the unique charm of this beautiful area.

The guide was officially launched on 26th February at Eight at Gazegill. The event was attended by over fifty members of the Bowland Sustainable Tourism Business network and partner organisations. Many of these partners contribute to the guide through advertisements, which help fund its production.

Delve into the pocket-friendly guide and discover Bowland on foot or by bike with our Eco Escapes itineraries. These thoughtfully crafted routes encourage you to slow down, embrace nature’s gentle rhythms and uncover Bowland’s hidden gems. Enjoy the changing seasons, savour delicious local food, engage in invigorating activities and relax in outstanding accommodation.

Festival Bowland got underway during the February half-term with the dynamic Dark Skies Festival. With events scheduled throughout the year, the Festival Bowland programme celebrates nature, landscape, culture and heritage, offering something for everyone.

Eight at GazegillLearn about fantastic projects that connect the arts with health and wellbeing, read inspiring stories from women in farming, and discover how the whole family can enjoy Bowland’s wonders year-round.

The National Landscape Team has had an industrious year in 2024, developing and delivering numerous exciting projects. Explore our nature recovery plans, curlew awards, access for all developments and support for farmers and landowners through our Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme.

The guide will be widely available at tourist information centres, hospitality and accommodation providers and other outlets across the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. A digital version will also be available at: www.forestofbowland.com/discover-bowland-guide 
Both the guide and the companion Discover Bowland website are packed with information to help you make the most of your visit.

The Guide is free, but donations are welcome to Champion Bowland, the charity supporting sustainable tourism, environment and community projects across the protected area.

Hetty Byrne, the sustainable tourism officer for the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, said: “We hope the Discover Bowland guide and website will raise awareness of Bowland’s stunning natural beauty and the fantastic work of our partnership. Through the publication we aim to inspire visitors to connect with nature, extend their stay, reduce car use and support local businesses."

Farming & Forestry First Aid Course

27th January 2025

First Aid Poster image

Funded places made possible through our Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme.

Thursday 13th February

10am - 2pm (lunch provided)

Wood End Farm, Dunsop Bridge

BB7 3BE

The Forest of Bowland Farmers Group are part funding* 10 places for a 3-hour practical Farming & Forestry First Aid Course.

This short course, which is valid for 3 years, is designed to complement a First Aid at Work course - giving additional training to meet farmer and forester needs, and more importantly, to equip a student to save a life until professional help arrives.

Read more about the course here: Farming & Forestry First Aid Course

*A small financial contribution will be required

Limited spaces available, to be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

First Aid Poster image

Please contact laura.simpson2@lancashire.gov.uk to register your interest.

First aid training course

Outdoors opens up for trainees – marking National Apprenticeship Week

22nd January 2025

Two trainees are now forging careers based in the outdoors, as part of a scheme to promote nature, wellbeing and Outdoor Learning.

Theonitsa-and-Abbie

Connecting People and Nature (CPAN) is a three-year project based in Lancashire, and launched in 2023. It is being delivered jointly by education charity The Ernest Cook Trust with the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

The first trainee, Abbie Hampshire, spent a year on the project employed by The Ernest Cook Trust, and was so successful she has now gone on to a new role with Forest of Bowland National Landscape, as Community Engagement Officer for CPAN.

Her successor, Theonitsa Kindyni, is now working with the Trust on the CPAN project, and is already making great new connections and taking advantage of a wealth of training opportunities.

As the UK marks National Apprenticeship Week (February 10-16), the Connecting People and Nature partners are celebrating the success in helping Abbie and Theonitsa in their chosen careers.

Vicki McDermott, The Ernest Cook Trust’s Head of Learning, Operations and Partnerships (Cumbria & Lancashire), said: “It’s great to see Abbie’s career progression, through the trajectory of connecting people with nature. Her training, alongside the experience of working with the team, has enabled her to step into her new role, which is a great success. This in turn has opened up an opportunity for Theonitsa to join.”

Theo-at-Low-Beckside-Farm

Theonitsa’s role includes working with schools, helping to train teachers in how they can take their curriculum outside, and working with communities to arrange sessions around the needs of the people of the group, to get them outside.

She said: “I feel this role is very interactive, with lots of opportunities for me to explore different paths, and many people for me to talk to or shadow. I would really encourage people to go into an apprenticeship, especially those who want to explore an area they are passionate about but need some scaffolding to gain experience and deeper understanding of the options available to them.”

Abbie, who became a Forest School leader during her apprenticeship, said the traineeship had given her an opportunity to follow a passion for nature and explore a new career path.

“I feel very lucky that I was able to be part of a traineeship that allowed me to explore myself and learn new skills to further my career and development.”

Abbie and Theonitsa are just two in a long line of trainees and apprentices supported by The Ernest Cook Trust, which offers practical pathways into careers based in the outdoors and in Outdoor Learning.

For more information about Connecting People and Nature project, visit https://www.forestofbowland.com/connecting-people-nature.

Forest of Bowland National Landscape Among Six ‘Hub’ Locations Showcasing New Artistic Works in National Nature Calling Programme

15th January 2025

As part of the national arts programme, Nature Calling, the Forest of Bowland National Landscape are delighted to present new work by OneDa, a Manchester-based rapper and BBC 6 Music favourite. OneDa’s music blends hip-hop, drum and bass, afro-trap and afrobeats.

Image of OneDa - Nature Calling ArtistOneDa created her new work after visiting the Forest of Bowland and Pendle Hill to explore and experience this National Landscape. Additionally, OneDa conducted two creative writing workshops with members of the Pendle YES Hub. One participant, Saj, shared, “My favourite part about the workshops was meeting OneDa. She taught us how to make a song, which I enjoyed, and I learned a lot from them.”

Fresh from an exciting year in 2024, including multiple award wins and the release of her debut album ‘Formula OneDa’, OneDa’s ‘Connections’ rap brings to life her visits to the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. She says of the process:

“Creating Connections was a deeply immersive journey of exploration, reflection, and collaboration. The Forest of Bowland—vast, serene, and unfamiliar—became both a source of inspiration and a space for personal and creative transformation. This project wasn’t just about writing; it was about engaging with the land, its sounds, and the stories it holds to craft an experience that resonates beyond the written word.

A significant part of my process involved facilitating Hip-Hop and spoken word workshops with young people from surrounding areas. These sessions gave me valuable insight into their perspectives and experiences of Bowland, adding a rich layer of depth and authenticity to the piece. Their voices shaped the work, reminding me of the importance of community and collaboration in art.

As a Black artist, this process carried additional significance. Navigating spaces like Bowland—places often disconnected from the stories and histories I grew up with—challenged me to break down barriers, both external and internal. It became an opportunity to rewrite my relationship with nature and reflect on the ways these landscapes can serve as spaces for healing, discovery, and belonging.

Connections is an invitation. It asks listeners and readers alike to wander, to question, and to immerse themselves in the unknown. It’s about finding beauty beneath the surface, breaking boundaries, and allowing ourselves to truly connect—with nature, with others, and with ourselves.”

Alongside OneDa's work, the National Landscapes Association is today releasing new work by MOBO award winning Still Shadey from Croydon, Dorset based poet and author Louisa Adjoa Parker, up and coming poet Ayesha Chouglay and poet, educator and proud Lutonian, Lee Nelson. The work inspires and reflects on new feelings of connection to England’s most iconic places.

In 2025 Nature Calling, funded by the Arts Council and DEFRA, is bringing together the 34 National Landscapes in England, local arts organisations and community groups from within a 30-minute journey time of their nearby National Landscape in an ambitious new national arts programme. In the Forest of Bowland we are working collaboratively with Lancaster Arts and Blaze Arts to support our artists to co-create artworks inspired by these iconic places, and the results will be shared with the public in a Season of Art from May - October 2025, reaching an audience of tens of thousands.

John Watkins, Chief Executive of the National Landscapes Association said:

“I’m thrilled with the quality and range of written and spoken pieces we’re releasing today as part of the Nature Calling programme. The pieces are incredibly poignant, they are moving and meaningful and beautifully conjure up what the writers felt and thought whilst in a National Landscape. Our aim, through Nature Calling is to support people from all walks of life to find new ways to connect with their National Landscapes on their terms – either for the first or the thousandth time – to discover and share their unique connection. There is truly something for everyone amongst these pieces.”

Read and listen to 'Connections' here: https://youtu.be/gxe10MzSyPs

Visit www.naturecalling.org.uk and www.forestofbowland.com/nature-calling to find out more and to get involved.

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