Wildlife has no boundaries. The aim of the Farm Cluster is to work collaboratively, enabling farmers to enhance and connect habitats and encouraging the transition of wildlife from one area to another

A farm cluster involves landowners and farmers working together to discuss farming for nature, exchange knowledge and experience, and deliver nature-based projects.

Farmers, as custodians of over 70% of UK land, are key to delivery of nature recovery, climate mitigation, adaptation and risk reduction. However, identifying land on which to deliver 25 Year Environmental Plan, Local Nature Recovery, WINEP, ELM, Net Zero and Flood Risk Reduction can be challenging, not least for the farmers themselves. A cluster offers support, a community of learning, guidance, access to expertise, funding and verification of outcomes. However, experience elsewhere in the UK is clear that trusted intermediaries are essential.

A farm cluster creates a pool of rural land-based businesses with a variety of habitats and different opportunities. Their ground-up approach results in robust project pipelines and allows traceable, verified capital and revenue driven nature-based projects. Clusters provide the perfect tool to aggregate resources, objectives and delivery projects alongside other agencies, public and private funds. The resulting collaboration delivers multi-benefits projects quickly, efficiently and easily.
It might involve new habitats being created, from hedgerows to wetlands, or the improvement of habitats and soil through more wildlife-friendly farming. It will also provide an exemplar for delivering local and regional environmental priorities through the private land management community.
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The North Essex Farm Cluster was formed in 2022, with over 40 farmers and land managers coming together with potential partner organisations to register their interest in the Cluster. With over £1m of potential investments on offer to farmers for nature-based solutions, a Cluster coordinator was appointed in September 2022 work with farmers to design, manage and deliver environmental projects at scale, and at pace.