The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced a new, simplified Countryside Stewardship Scheme that aims to help more farmers and land managers protect wildlife and enhance the environment. The programme consists of four simpler, quicker to apply for offers:
- Arable
- Lowland grazing
- Mixed farming
- Upland
that will complement the current Higher Tier and Mid-Tier offers. Each offer has a set of options, requirements, payment rates and specific wildlife benefits.
The scheme is non-competitive and will give annual payments for 5 years. All landowners who make a valid application for any of the four new packages will be guaranteed funding though the scheme and more farmers and land managers – including those new to Countryside Stewardship or those coming out of previous agreements – will be able to apply.
Farmers and land managers have until 31 May 2018 to request a paper application pack; those intending to apply online this year will be able to create an Online Arable Offer application pack from 20 February.
The deadline for all applications is 31 July 2018.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-countryside-stewardship-offers-open-for-applications