Natural England

Natural England welcomes the Government’s announcement that spending on agri-environment schemes will increase from £1 billion from 2000-2006 to almost £3 billion from 2007-2013.

Dr Helen Phillips, Natural England’s Chief Executive said: “Natural England has consistently called for increased funding for green farming schemes. As a result of the Government’s successful negotiations in Europe and its commitment to the protection and enhancement of our natural environment, the financial future for England’s Environmental Stewardship scheme is now on a secure footing.”

The Government has confirmed that substantial new investment is available for Higher Level Stewardship. HLS funding will support first-rate environmental land management practices on England's most important and sensitive areas, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Higher level funding could be targeted to support England’s scarce and declining bird species, such as corn bunting and tree sparrows, and breeding waders such as snipe, redshank and lapwings. It could also be used to conserve important wildlife habitats, such as ancient hay meadows, wetlands and heathlands, and boost the condition of England’s most sensitive landscapes.

Dr Phillips added: “Significant money has already been invested in agreements under the Environmentally Sensitive Area and Countryside Stewardship Schemes that will expire over the next seven years. We still have a lot to do and will need to take tough decisions to prioritise Higher Level Scheme funding in those areas which produce the highest environmental benefits”.

A significant proportion of the money will fund the continuation and further expansion of Entry Level Stewardship (ELS). Farmers have already signed over 28,000 ELS agreements, leading to over 4 million hectares of England’s farmland out of a total of 9.2 million hectares being managed for the benefit of the environment.