Farmers who have experienced damage to their land due to winter floods can now access support from a new government fund.

The Farming Recovery Fund can now be accessed by Worcestershire farmers who suffered as a result of Storm Henk.

Devised to aid those who suffered uninsurable damage to their land, the fund offers grants ranging from £500 to £25,000 to cover recultivation costs.

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Read more: Flood alerts in Worcestershire as river Severn breaks banks

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Farming minister Mark Spencer said: “I know how difficult this winter has been for farmers, with extreme weather such as Storm Henk having a devastating impact on both cropping and grazing, as well as damaging property and equipment. “The Farming Recovery Fund will support farmers who suffered uninsurable damage with grants of up to £25,000, and sits alongside broader support in our farming schemes to improve flood resilience.”

The funding forms part of the larger Flood Recovery Framework, which is activated in exceptional circumstances to support councils and communities affected severely by flooding.

Worcestershire joins other counties, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, West Northamptonshire and Wiltshire, as the initial areas where the fund will be open due to the high levels of flooding experienced.

Farmers eligible for support through the fund are being contacted directly by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), which is outlining the aid available and how to make a claim.

Should further areas be impacted by farmland flooding, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will review fund eligibility.

Earlier this year, authorities announced intentions to open the fund after extensive consultation with stakeholders and outlining an eligibility criteria.

By identifying now-eligible fields, the RPA can streamline the claim process, allowing for faster payment delivery.

In addition to the fund, farmers are also eligible for aid through the framework, such as a grant of up to £2,500 as part of the Business Recovery Grant.

This move comes after 2023 was named the sixth wettest year since records began in 1836 by the Met Office.

The government has said it is now ramping up investments to protect numerous properties in communities, including many rural dwellings, with a £5.6 billion commitment.