Chance to apply for countryside stewardship
The application window for Countryside Stewardship is open from July to September with the first agreements starting on January 1, 2016, writes Charlotte Webster.
Countryside Stewardship will replace Higher Level and Entry Level Stewardship with multi-year higher-tier and mid-tier schemes, run jointly by Natural England, the Forestry Commission England and the Rural Payments Agency on behalf of Defra.
Most elements of Countryside Stewardship will be competitive, and not everyone who applies will be successful. Successful applications will comprise options and capital items that best fit the environmental priorities for their area. A range of management options and one-off payments towards qualifying capital items and activities can be combined to create an agreement. Packages focused on options for farm wildlife and water quality issues are also available which help to develop a competitive application.
All higher-tier and mid-tier agreements will last for a minimum of five years, with the potential for higher-tier agreements to be designed over a longer duration. Payments under these agreements will need to be claimed annually.
Those thinking of applying for Countryside Stewardship (including those who have previously held agreements) will need to be registered with the Rural Payments service.
A number of options have been specifically designed and made available to organic farmers and land managers only, and include options for conversion to organic farming. Applicants will need to be registered with an Organic Certification Body, and additional criteria applies.
Applications for organic conversion and maintenance is not competitive, and eligible applicants will be offered the relevant options subject to budget availability.
Applications for Countryside Stewardship will be cross-checked against Basic Payment Scheme claims to ensure compatibility of land use.
To avoid double funding, a number of options under Countryside Stewardship will have their payment rate reduced when the land is used to meet Ecological Focus Area requirements
. Land managers with Higher Level Stewardship agreements expiring in 2016 may be eligible to apply in 2015 for a higher tier agreement.
Those interested in applying for scheme should seek advice on the environmental priorities in their local area.
* Charlotte Webster is a practitioner at Berrys
