The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is currently seeking planners for the design of NPWS Farm Plans in 2025.

One of the main objectives of the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme is to trial novel approaches to farming for the environment and to safeguard particular sites, habitats, and species.

The scheme also works towards meeting conservation measures required under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.

Since the scheme was launched in 2006, over 800 NPWS Farm Plans have been approved.

The NPWS said that these plans have been instrumental in designing national agri-environment schemes which have been developed on a larger scale.

At farm level, measures are tailored towards the biodiversity and management requirements of particular fields or areas of conservation importance, with the farmer being paid for the results they deliver.

Plans are typically of five-year duration, with the participant free to leave at any time.

The NPWS Farm Plan Scheme has to date focussed predominantly on birds, with more than 53% of plans targeted at breeding waders, chough, corncrake, geese/swans, and hen harrier.

According to recently published tender documents, the NPWS said that in total 101 individual plans have been identified for 2025, which are divided among 24 lots or work packages.

The role of the farm planner or farm planning team, is to carefully evaluate the local environment and the priority targets.

They will then produce a clear outline, using Farm Plan Scheme templates, that the participant can follow.

The farm planning process should also identify payments that would ensue for the farm plan participant.

During the period of the scheme, the planner must visit the farm plan participant at least once a year to monitor compliance and progress, including evaluating and scoring habitat condition.

The NPWS noted that the successful delivery of the Farm Plan Scheme is "heavily dependent on suppliers having the appropriate resources readily available".

It said that this includes, but is not limited to, qualified personnel, necessary equipment, and adequate financial stability.

Therefore, the NPWS said that tenderers must provide "comprehensive evidence of their resource readiness and capability".