Natural England

Natural England recently collaborated with its sister agencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to review the effectiveness of the schemes.

• The review confirmed that agri-environment schemes largely succeeded in halting the loss and deterioration of semi-natural habitats, landscapes and historic features in the areas that were brought into agreement.
• There is good evidence that well-designed and well-targeted agri-environment schemes can reverse the decline in a range of wildlife associated with farmland. The evidence is strongest for birds, but there is also good evidence for arable plants, several mammals and a range of invertebrates.
• Agri-environment schemes have significantly improved the chances of species-rich grasslands under agreement surviving in favourable condition.
• In the uplands there is good evidence from across the UK that the condition of heather on existing heather moorland improves rapidly when appropriate grazing regimes are put in place under agri-environment scheme agreements.

Natural England Chairman Sir Martin Doughty sees a potential to build on the current momentum. “Natural England already has agreements with more than 32,000 farmers and landowners, covering more than half of all the farmland in England. We will continue to improve the scheme to make it even more effective locally and seek to bring more people and land into these agreements.”

See press release 'Good progress' on Environmental Stewardship for more details.