In February 2022, I started a second Test & Trial. This time we will be concentrating on testing a blended finance approach. That is, bringing funds from both the public and private sector to deliver environmental benefits.

As well as the 10 participants who took part in the first Test & trial, this Phase will include a further 10 farmers/landowners. It will run for two years and will involve the following steps:

• The farmers, landowners and smallholders will propose projects they would like to deliver on their land;
• The group will build an online platform to showcase their projects;
• Four projects will be selected by the participants and these will go to Harper Adams University, Natural Capital Solutions and 3Adapt. The task for these three organisations is to assign a monetary value to the public goods that these projects will deliver over a given time period. For example, the public goods delivered by a hedgerow may include sequestering carbon, providing a habitat for wildlife, connecting existing habitats, infiltrating water, etc.
• The participants will have the opportunity to review the financial value assigned to each of the projects and discuss the methodology with the organisations.
• Once the participants are satisfied, they will approach four private funders and ask whether they would like to fund the public goods that each project will deliver.

Updates: 

• Milestone 1 Report – To evaluate the current level of understanding of blended finance among 20 farmers/landowners in South Shropshire and draw out levels of interest/concern on entering into private finance agreements in the future.

There are 9 milestones in total. Reports from each milestone will be posted here when completed.