Launch of Environmental Stewardship Scheme

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Monday, 07 March 2005

The new Environmental Stewardship Scheme will be central to the biggest change to farming for a generation, said Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett. Under the Scheme, for the first time, every farmer in England will be able to earn payments for undertaking environmental protection and enhancement work on their land. This will mark a watershed in the way England is farmed.

Farmers will earn money for work such as looking after hedgerows to provide habitat for birds and small mammals, creating wildflower plots for bees and other beneficial insects and protecting ponds from pesticides and fertilisers to encourage for wildlife such as frogs and newts. This work will help to reduce the decline in wild bird populations, cut pollution and increase all forms of wildlife on farms.

Mrs Beckett explained that Entry Level Stewardship will enable farmers to earn up to £30 a hectare for delivering straightforward, yet effective, work such as maintaining hedgerows, leaving conservation strips around fields and creating beetle banks.

"The more farmers that become involved, the greater the benefit to the environment. Reversing the long term decline in farmland birds, for example, requires action to improve habitats over wide areas" said Mrs Beckett

"Farmers will also be pleased to hear that the Scheme has been designed so the application process is as straightforward as possible and those that wish to can apply over the internet," she added.

Organic Entry Level Stewardship offers organic management options for land which is registered as fully organic or in conversion to organic farming with the Organic Inspection Body approved by Defra. It provides payments of up to £60 per hectare annually for land entered into the Scheme.

Source: www.defra.gov.uk