Got a budding idea for your farm or land? FiPL could help develop it

More than 250 projects have already been supported through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme in Nidderdale, ranging from regenerative grazing and nature conservation to farm diversification and local food production. 

FiPL is running until March 2029 and can support projects across farming, nature recovery, climate, heritage, access and rural enterprise. 

One local business to receive support is Daleview Dairy at Lofthouse. 

The Graham family launched a new venture in early 2025 making ice cream on the farm using locally sourced milk, with plans in future to milk a small herd of their own cows at Lofthouse. 

Before production could begin, the family needed to invest in equipment and meet the necessary hygiene requirements. 

FiPL funding contributed towards some of that equipment, alongside the planting of a small orchard of fruit trees which will eventually provide fruit for ice cream flavours. 

Daleview Dairy now supplies pubs, shops, cafes and caravan parks across the dale and also sells directly from its catering trailer. 

Millie Graham said: “Starting a new venture meant there was a lot of equipment we needed to buy before we could begin making ice cream, so we were very grateful for the FiPL funding towards those costs and the planting of our small orchard. 

“We’re now supplying lots of local businesses across the dale as well as serving ice cream from our trailer, and in the future we hope to milk a small herd of our own cows here at Lofthouse.” 

FiPL has also helped local farmers invest in temporary electric fencing and water infrastructure to support adaptive multi-paddock grazing and other regenerative and high-nature-value farming approaches. 

And an idea does not need to be fully developed before you speak to the team. 

Matt Trevelyan, farming in protected landscapes officer at Nidderdale National Landscape, said: “Quite often the best projects start with a conversation around the kitchen table. You don’t need to have everything worked out, just an idea of what you’d like to do, and we can help you develop it from there.” 

Commercial projects with a strong nature-friendly element can receive funding of up to 40 per cent, while projects delivering entirely public benefits can potentially receive up to 100 per cent funding. 

If you have the beginnings of an idea for your farm, land or community, contact Matt to talk it through. 

07745 544 872
[email protected]