AN £18million boost for Glastir Advanced, the Welsh Government’s highly regarded sustainable land management scheme has been announced by rural affairs cabinet secretary Lesley Griffiths.

Glastir Advanced is the flagship component of Glastir, through which the Welsh Government offers financial support to farmers and land owners to improve the environmental management of their land.

Glastir pays for the delivery of specific environmental goods and services aimed at combating climate change, improving water management and maintaining and enhancing biodiversity.

Glastir Advanced offers targeted financial interventions, aimed at helping farmers and landowners to achieve value for money environmental improvements for habitats, species, soil and water.

The new round of funding for Glastir Advanced is worth £18.36m and is expected to deliver up to 340 Glastir Advanced contracts in 2018 (estimated at £54k per contract). The expression of interest window will open on February 28 and will close at midnight on March 31.

The cabinet secretary made the announcement as she officially opened the new Farmers Union of Wales offices in Newtown.

She said: “Glastir Advanced is very much at the forefront of delivering the Welsh Government’s objectives for the rural environment. I encourage farmers and landowners across Wales to find out more information on whether they are eligible to apply for a Glastir Advanced contract and, if they are, to submit an expression of interest before March 31.”