CASH grants are on offer to West Devon farmers diversifying into tourism under a new project launched by Devon Wildlife Trust.
Project leaders will be visiting farms to promote the On Track incentive scheme, part of the Green Gateway project set up to develop links between the environment, rural economy and local community. The project is funded through the Landfill Tax Credit scheme to the tune of £1-million over the next ten years.
David Leach, project leader, said: 'We are looking at ways of using wildlife to add value to agricultural and other countryside products.
'The On Track scheme is an extension of that concept, offering grants to enhance the appeal of farm tourism businesses by enhancing their uniqueness.'
Grants can be from £200 to £2,000, representing one third of the cost of the project. They can be used to improve visitor access, access for the disabled, or to produce interpretation materials for visitors to explain how farms work and the local wildlife.
The grants can also be used for small scale conservation work and to enhance the environmental sustainability of the business, such as facilities for re-cycling.