WIREDGOV

The Catchment Sensitive Farming Capital Grant Scheme will be open again for applications from 1 February 2014.

The CSF Capital Grant Scheme supports farmers to undertake practical works that will help improve water quality and reduce pollution from agricultural activity within the CSF project's 77 catchment areas.

More than 40 types of capital items are eligible, including installing water troughs, roofing manure and silage stores and works to keep livestock away from streams. A total of £7.5 million is available from the grant fund to support projects that meet the scheme’s criteria.

Farmers within the the Capital Grant Scheme’s priority catchments who are interested in making a grant application should contact their local Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer as soon as possible for more information. Contact details are available in the CSF section of the website or email catchmentsensitivefarming@naturalengland.org.uk.

The Capital Grant Scheme is a competitive fund with grants going to applications that best meet the scheme’s priorities and have the greatest environmental benefit. Grants of up to £10,000 per holding are available and the scheme can pay 50% of the cost of the agreed capital works.

The deadline for completed applications to be returned is 31 March 2014.

Catchment Sensitive Farming is a partnership between Natural England and the Environment Agency, funded by Defra and the Rural Development Programme for England, working in priority catchments within England.

Detailed maps for individual catchments can be viewed on the website but please note that some amendments to the CSF area boundaries will not be updated before 12 February. Farmers and their advisers in the following 14 catchments are asked to contact the Capital Grants Scheme team on 0300 060 1111 for a copy of the most up to date maps showing eligible grant funding areas.

Lincs Humber - Catchment Number: 14a
Deben, Alde and Ore - Catchment Number: 15
West Cornwall Catchments - Catchment Number: 16
Hampshire Avon - Catchment Number: 24
River Teme - Catchment Number: 28
Peak District Dales - Catchment Number: 30
Gipping and Orwell - Catchment Number: 31
Rivers Stour and Colne - Catchment Number: 48
River Perry - Catchment Number: 57
West Cumbria catchments - Catchment Number: 60
Upper Great Ouse - Catchment: A
Nidd - Catchment: C
Taw and Torridge - Catchment: E
Dane - Catchment:

For further information (media enquiries only) contact:

David Hirst, Natural England press officer: 0300 0601720 or 0782 7821679
david.hirst@naturalengland.org.uk