Defra has announced the re-opening of the Capital Grants scheme, further grant funding for equipment, technology and innovation and increased funding for existing Higher Level Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. Capital Grants Any applications that were made and were placed on hold while the scheme was paused will now be considered and grants will […]
Posted on February 28th, 2025 by Hettie Orttewell
Expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 scheme set to open fully from July. The Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme introduced in 2023 is set to be expanded to include additional actions on top of those currently available. These will be available under the 2024 SFI offer. Expressions of interest are now open for those wishing to […]
Posted on June 10th, 2024 by Matilde Spyvee
Mark Spencer, DEFRA Farming Minister has recently (5th January 2023) announced Countryside Stewardship (CS) payments are to rise by an average of 10%. Capital payments will rise by an average of 48%. This is alongside other announcements which aim to make entering and administrating the scheme simpler and fairer. Feedback from farmers has led to […]
Posted on January 9th, 2023 by Ellen Cottrell
Yesterday, DEFRA announced the expansion of its Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme to cover every farm in England by March 2023. The CSF programme is a partnership between DEFRA, Natural England and the Environment Agency which offers farmers on-farm one-to-one advice in order to reduce water and air pollution. Currently CSF support is only available […]
Posted on August 3rd, 2021 by Ellen Cottrell
Wildlife Offer Countryside Stewardship agreements provide a simplified scheme option for farmers with a set list of options under each Wildlife Offer type and provided the minimum requirements are met then an agreement will be offered. The aim of Wildlife Offer’s is as the name suggests, to support wildlife by providing sources of nectar and […]
Posted on March 17th, 2021 by Ellen Cottrell Capital grants are new for Countryside Stewardship 2021 and replace the former ‘Water capital grants’ and ‘Hedgerow and Boundary grants’. Whilst many of the options remain the same as in the previous schemes, a new area of grants has been included which aims to improve air quality. What does the grant offer funding for? The […]
Posted on March 17th, 2021 by Ellen Cottrell
Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship is very similar to the old style ELS schemes. It is designed to provide environmental benefits at an on-farm level with a range of options that can be tailored to suit most farming systems. What do Mid-Tier Stewardship schemes fund? Grant funding is available for land management practices which protect and enhance […]
Posted on March 17th, 2021 by Ellen Cottrell
The Transitional Plan, announced on Monday, formally moves the agricultural responsibilities from the EU Commission to Defra. This is the first piece of post Brexit legislation. This policy will be shaped by decisions made in Whitehall and will no longer need to be negotiated with 27 member states. For example, a more proportionate approach to […]
Posted on December 2nd, 2020 by Andrew Troughton
Wildlife Offer Countryside Stewardship agreements provide a simplified scheme option for farmers with a set list of options under each Wildlife Offer type and provided the minimum requirements are met then an agreement will be offered. The aim of Wildlife Offer’s is as the name suggests, to support wildlife by providing sources of nectar and […]
Posted on June 9th, 2020 by Ellen Cottrell
Mid-Tier Countryside Stewardship is very similar to the old style ELS schemes. It is designed to provide environmental benefits at an on-farm level with a range of options that can suit most farming systems. What do Mid-Tier Stewardship schemes fund? Grant funding is available for land management practices which protect and enhance the natural environment, […]
Posted on June 8th, 2020 by Ellen Cottrell