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ELS Online
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Latest news
- Latest progress on the ELS Online Wider Launch.
- The latest information on System Availability and Software Upgrades (including scheduled downtime).
- The ELS Online application software that is available through these web pages has now been released to a wider audience after a successful pilot. Possible future enhancements to the software have been recorded from our current users. Any changes to the software or ELS Scheme affecting online users will be detailed on these pages. If you wish to participate in using the ELS Online Software you should contact the ELS Online Team on 01905 362709/ 362700/ 362711.
- Important News: Signed paper versions of the 'Agent Authorisation Form' are no longer required for online applications. However, we are still required to capture some important contact name/address detail via an updated form ELS Online Agents Additional Information Form
that can be e-mailed to us at els.online@naturalengland.org.uk at the same time you submit your ELS online application. - Please be aware; because of recent ES Scheme changes we are no longer able to receive Online applications with LFA land. Anyone who wishes to enter LFA Land into ELS will have to contact their local region for a paper application.
What is ELS Online?
ELS Online is a software package that will enable you to prepare your Entry Level Stewardship application on your computer and submit it to Natural England via the internet. It is a secure process that can be used both by individual applicants and agents submitting applications on behalf of their clients.
When you have completed your application, you can print it for your own records, and send the form electronically to Natural England.
A presentation is available explaining how the system works 
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Why should I use ELS Online rather than fill in paper forms?
ELS Online will make it easier to calculate your points totals, and remove the repetition and duplication associated with traditional paper forms.
Agents can complete the application on a PC with their customer. If the application is on a laptop, the agent can take it to the farm and complete it in the farm house or estate office. It is possible for agents to have several farm details on their laptops to cover a range of farms before returning to the office, where several applications can be uploaded to Natural England in one session.
Who can use ELS Online?
Anyone who wishes to apply for ELS only, either for themselves, or acting as an agent or intermediary for someone else, subject to the conditions below. The software application is well suited to agents and intermediaries, as it allows them to monitor the status of several applications.
Who cannot use the ELS Online service?
Anyone whose PC is below the specification required (detailed below). Those who wish to enter land which has either LFA Land or exceeds a 100 kilometer square.
ELS Online is only available to applicants where the maximum extent of a grid constructed around their RLR registered land does not exceed 100 square km.
To determine the extent of the grid, draw a rectangle on a map that encloses all registered land parcels, with the sides of the rectangle facing north-south and east-west. Isolated field parcels or clusters must be included in the grid area. Multiply the length and breadth of the rectangle.
Examples of maximum extent:
- 10 x 10 km
- 25 x 4 km
If the grid area is greater than 100 square km you must request a paper application, there may also be other less common size restrictions.
You will need a PC and a connection to the internet, preferably by broadband due to the large size of the software application and supporting information (the software application is almost 20 megabytes in size and could take approximately 60 minutes to download via a conventional 56k 'dial-up' modem).
The minimum specification of your PC should be:
- Windows 98, 2000, NT or XP (Windows Vista can also be used, but has not been comprehensively tested.)
- Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 3.0 or above
- Pentium II or faster processor
- 256MB memory
- 100MB free hard disk space
- Internet access (ELS Online will work with ‘dial-up’ internet access, but download and submission times will take longer compared to a broadband connection)
Please note that Apple Macintosh computers are not supported.