Private finance resources, reports and guidance
Private forms of finance for farming are anything that is not a government grant or subsidy. With the future of public payments being uncertain, we have put together some resources to help you think about others way you could finance your sustainable farming practices.
Reports and articles
FIRNS Round 2, final project report: Improved governance mechanisms for whole farm and farm cluster natural capital project implementation
Recording of our final FIRNS project: A Whole Farm Approach to Natural Capital Webinar
Other FIRNS-funded projects: FIRNS - The Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland
Blog post: What is “green finance” and what does it have to do with farming?
SRUC article on net zero and farming: Exploring net zero and agriculture
Getting started with “baselining”
Some schemes may require a specific type of baseline assessment to be made, so if you know exactly what you’d like to do, it might make sense to ask which tool or expertise is required first.
Take stock of what natural assets you have on your farm by creating a whole farm plan: Whole Farm Planning resources, reports and guidance
Baselining with a carbon focus: Rethink Carbon
Carbon credits
The first successful Peatland Code project on common grazings is due to commence restoration in the Flow Country in Autumn 2025. Watch out for updates here, or email the Flow Country Partnership to find out more.
If you want to create at least 1 hectare (total) of new woodland: UK Woodland Carbon Code
Sustainable soil management: Agreena, Ecometric, Regenerate Outcomes or Soil Association Exchange Market
More resources here: River management and peatland restoration
Trees and hedges
Woodland Trust's MOREwoods or MOREhedges schemes
If you want to plant trees with at least 5m spacing between them, you could also still be eligible for the UK Woodland Carbon Code
More resources here: Agroforestry resources
(Agro)biodiversity
Credits for pairing biodiversity with carbon uplift: Wilder Carbon Projects
In England, "Habitat Banking" for Biodiversity Net Gain exists and this is anticipated for Scotland too (status April 2025): Biodiversity Net Gain for landowners
Case study for diversified cropping: Scottish Bean variety trials
Case study for alternative breeds: The Woolly Pig Company
Community/citizen engagement
In many cases, it’s important or even required to make sure the local community is not negatively impacted by a natural capital project. The Scottish Land Commission provides useful advice on this, including this route map for ensuring community benefits from natural capital projects: New Tool Helps Communities to Benefit from Nature Restoration
Think about direct sales e.g. through Community Supported Agriculture
Get ideas for diversification from the Go Rural agritourism network for Scotland
Try Crowdfunding for a specific project you have in mind (here's a link to a successful example)
Speak with other farmers or supply chain actors who you supply to or who neighbour you e.g. whisky distillers who need a clean water supply.
Join a farm cluster or other partnership
… or set one up, around a topic that interests you. For example, the Strathmore Farm Cluster (registered as a Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust cluster) came about to bring back the grey partridge. There are many more examples like this out there, such as the Northwoods Rewilding Network, Regenerative Farming Network, Moray Farm Cluster and Clyde Valley Wader Group. There are many more out there, including the successful Environmental Farmers Group in England, so just get curious!
There are many cost savings to be made when working on a group or cooperative level. Initiatives like Tweed Forum and SAOS have lots of experience in this.
Podcasts
Farm Gate series hosted by 8point9 about “Filling the funding gap”, e.g. What’s a nature credit and how are they sold?
FAS's Natural capital series