Grants administered by DEFRA
(Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship is a new agri-environment scheme which provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land.

The scheme is intended to build on the recognised success of the Environmental Sensitive Areas scheme and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Its primary objectives are to:

• Conserve wildlife (biodiversity)
• Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character
• Protect the historic environment and natural resources
• Promote public access and understanding of the countryside
• Natural resource protection

Within the primary objectives it also has the secondary objectives of:

• Genetic conservation
• Flood management

Environmental Stewardship has three elements:

Entry Level Stewardship (ELS)
is a 'whole farm' scheme open to all farmers and land managers who farm their land conventionally. Acceptance will be guaranteed provided you can meet the scheme requirements. Monthly application dates apply for full flexibility, agreements will be for 5 years.

Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS)
is a 'whole farm' scheme similar to ELS, open to farmers who manage all or part of their land organically and who are not receiving aid under the Organic Aid Scheme (OAS) or the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS)

Higher Level Stewardship (HLS)
will be combined with ELS or OELS and aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority situations and areas. This Scheme is discretionary and competitive with quarterly application dates. Agreements will be for 10 years.

For full details visit http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm