Environmental Stewardship developments
The current Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) ends on 31 December 2013. This webpage includes information for farmers, land managers, agents and stakeholders on recent changes to Environmental Stewardship (ES) and information on key issues and deadlines for the remainder of the current programme.
Managing Environmental Stewardship up to the end of the current RDPE programme
Information Note: (126kb)
summarising how Natural England will manage:
- HLS planning, budgets, targeting and delivery
- 3-Tier HLS (changes to Fast Track criteria)
- Expiring ESA and CSS agreements
- ELS delivery and support
- Making Environmental Stewardship More Effective (MESME)
- Transition to next RDPE programme (2014-20)
Environmental Stewardship calendars
Details the actions to be taken by ES applicants, agents and Natural England through the next two delivery years, including:
- the steps to take to avoid a gap between old and new agreements
- the deadlines for submitting applications and finalising agreements.
Rationales for expiring ESAs
Details on how Natural England assess expiring agreements suitability for transfer into HLS or ELS/Uplands ELS and individual documents for each ESA aimed at providing national consistency, clarity and openness around how we do this.
Making Environmental Stewardship More Effective (MESME)
MESME is a Defra-led project which aims to improve the delivery of environmental outcomes from ES. Ministers have now approved the main MESME recommendations but details are yet to be approved by the European Commission. Draft details are provided here.
Transition to the next RDPE programme (2014-20)
Defra have produced an Information Note and Q&A regarding how RDPE changes are likely to affect ES agreements which start in 2012 or 2013. Follow link above for further details including:
- Defra’s Information Note, Q&A and
- Defra Press Release ‘Views sought on CAP reform
” (12/12/11)
Changes to payment timings
Following an EU audit, there have been changes to the way farmers are paid under Defra's agri-environment schemes. The audit looked at whether England was complying with EU rules introduced in 2007 relating to how and when payments are made.
Further information includes the latest Defra Press Release, Q&A document: (65kb) and ES Payment Timing tool: (358kb)
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