Applications open for Lowland Peat Water Discovery Grant

A government fund totalling up to £4.5 million has been made available to help farmers and local partners explore more sustainable ways of managing water in lowland peat areas.

Delivered by the Environment Agency, the The Lowland Peat Water Discovery Grant is will encourage and enable groups of local stakeholders to work with farmers or landowners.

Qualifying projects will need to produce a practical plan to show how water tables could be raised safely and sustainably, with consideration to land used for conventional farming, wetter farming and paludicuture, or peatland restoration. Funding ranges from £50,000 to £300,000 per project. Following completion in 2028, these projects will be well placed to apply for a Water Implementation Grant to help pay for installing the infrastructure set out in their plan.

Applications are welcomed from those in lowland peat areas where the lead applicant is part of, or has brought together, a local group.

To be eligible to apply, the lead applicant must be a:

• charity or not-for-profit organisation

• public body (including local authorities and internal drainage boards)

• land manager

• business or commercial enterprise

Grants will be awarded competitively, to the highest scoring applicants.

For full information see Apply for a Lowland Peat Water Discovery Grant – The Farming Blog

The deadline to apply is 26 June 2026.

Photo credit: Christopher Moses