Countryside Stewardship applications have increased by almost 45 per cent compared to last year, Natural England and Forestry Commission have confirmed.
Natural England has received around 3,800 Mid-Tier applications, which is up by around 60 per cent on the 2358 applications received in 2015. For Higher Tier, the level of interest remains high with 954 initial applications received, compared to 926 last year.
Countryside Stewardship provides financial incentives for farmers and land managers to look after their environment through activities such as conserving and restoring wildlife habitats and flood risk management.
Guy Thompson, Natural England’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “We are firmly committed to working in partnership with farmers for the environment and have listened to their feedback on Countryside Stewardship. We have improved the scheme to make it easier and simpler to apply and are delighted to see that farmers have responded so positively. We’ll continue to listen to the industry and improve the scheme to build uptake further next year.”
The 2016 application round closed on 30th September, and was opened earlier and for longer than last year. Natural England talked to farmers and land managers before making improvements for applicants in 2016 by providing guidance which was more ‘farmer friendly’ and introducing a new Online Option selection tool.
Further certainty was also given to farmers in the recent announcement by HM Treasury, which confirmed funding for agri-environment schemes following the UK’s exit from the EU.
'Woodland-based agreements rise significantly'
Figures for woodland-based agreements also rose significantly. The number of Higher Tier woodland only applications received increased by 65 per cent and the number of Woodland Creation applications received increased by almost a third.
Penny Oliver, Team Leader for Incentives and Regulations at the Forestry Commission, said: “We are really pleased to see such increased levels of applications for woodland creation and improvement, both of which will help towards improving biodiversity and water quality. It also helps us meet our important target of getting more woodland into management and supports the government’s aim of planting 11 million trees this Parliament."
Dr Alastair Leake, Head of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Allerton Project farm in Leicestershire said the previous Stewardship scheme was a "massive success" with 70% of land area included in an agreement.
"This was a significant achievement and it is reassuring that so many farmers are now expressing interest in the Mid Tier scheme," Mr Leake said.
"However, this new scheme is more competitive and targeted and it is vital that farmers read the scheme guidance and seek the right advice in order to complete these applications successfully. This will make a difference to the final outcome, as well as being better for the environment and British farming."
