Natural England

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

The scheme's 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
• Protect natural resources.

Environmental Stewardship has three elements:

• Entry Level Stewardship (ELS):
• Open to all farmers and landowners
• Simple and effective land management
• Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS):
• Organic strand of ELS
• Open to all farmers not receiving Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) aid
• Higher Level Stewardship (HLS):
• Targeted environmental management
• Capital work plans