Natural England - Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme that provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land.
For information and how to apply in your area, contact your regional office.
Latest
- (30 June 09) New issue of Environmental Stewardship update
- (26 May 09) Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas – Don’t delay, claim today!
By now you should have received your claim form for your Countryside Stewardship or ESA Agreement. more.. - (April 09) New and revised options have been introduced into ELS
and OELS - (8 April 09) New issue of Environmental Stewardship Update
- (18 December 08) Uplands ELS, Hill Farm Allowance and the Uplands Transitional Payment
What are the aims of Environmental Stewardship?
The primary objectives of Environmental Stewardship 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
protect natural resources.
The secondary objectives of Environmental Stewardship are:
genetic conservation
flood management.
There are three elements to Environmental Stewardship :
Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) provides a straightforward approach to supporting the good stewardship of the countryside. This is done through simple and effective land management that goes beyond the Single Payment Scheme requirement to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition. It is open to all farmers and landowners.
Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) is the organic strand of ELS. It is geared to organic and organic/conventional mixed farming systems and is open to all farmers not receiving Organic Farming Scheme aid.
Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) involves more complex types of management, where land managers need advice and support, and agreements are tailored to local circumstances. HLS applications will be assessed against specific local targets and agreements will be offered where they meet these targets and represent good value for money.
Further information
Background information on Environmental Stewardship can be found in Look after your land with Environmental Stewardship.
For more information about Environmental Stewardship, contact your regional office.
Environmental Stewardship builds on the recognised success of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.