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.

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For further information contact the Natural England press office: 0845 603 9953 or 07970 098005 for our out of hours service.

Notes for editors:

1. Environmental Stewardship facts and figures:

• Hedgerows - over 100 million metres of hedgerow conserved and managed for the benefit of wildlife.
• Over 3000 farmers (agreements) planting wild birdseed mixtures.
• Over 1750 planting nectar and pollen mixtures.
• 277kms of permissive footpath plus 200kms of bridleway and cycle path.
• Nearly 750 educational visits.
• 148 traditional orchards restored and 83 newly planted traditional orchards.

2. Natural England took over responsibility for the delivery of Environmental Stewardship from the Rural Development Service on 1 October 2006.

3. Environmental Stewardship was launched on 3 March 2005. It is composed of three tiers:

• Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), a whole farm scheme which aims to encourage farmers and land managers across England to deliver simple but effective environmental management;
• Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS), which is open to farmers who manage all or part of their land organically;
• Higher Level Stewardship (HLS), which, when combined with ELS or OELS options, aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority areas.

4. Environmental Stewardship builds on the very best practice already evident in British farming. In particular, it takes forward Defra's two flagship agri-environment schemes, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Countryside Stewardship. The primary objectives of the new scheme 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.
• Natural resource protection.

5. Environmental Stewardship (ES) is one of the Schemes which operate under the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP). The scheme replaced the Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Organic Farming Schemes, which are now closed to new applicants.

6. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk