Our Services - Environmental Stewardship

Background to Stewardship

1987 Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme (ESA) was launched to encourage farmers to safeguard and enhance certain areas of England considered to be of high landscape, wildlife or historic value. The last of these 10 year schemes started in 2004.

1991 England wide the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) was introduced by the Countryside Commission. This provides capital payments for works such as barn restoration, hedge restoration and pond creation. Agreement holders are given annual payments in return for carrying out specific sensitive land management. The last of these 10 year schemes started in 2004.

2000 sees the launch of the England Rural Development Plan. This is the umbrella under which agri-environment schemes sat (CSS, ESA and Organic Farming Stewardship), it also included four project based scheme.

2005 saw the launch of Environmental Stewardship to replace CSS, ESA and OFS. There are Higher and Entry Levels and an organic strand Organic Entry Level to replace OFS. ELS is available to all while HLS is targeted and competitive.

The next ten years of support…
Since the mid term review and the shift to the Single Payment Scheme Defra is placing greater emphasis on environmental benefit. The concept of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition has given a new definition to farming. It is clear that Environmental Schemes are likely to be more secure over the next ten years than payments from SPS.

2006 saw the launch of Natural England a new government flagship environmental organisation. This organisation brought together English Nature, the Rural Development Service and the Countryside Agency's Landscape Access and Recreation division.

Natural England is responsible for managing the whole range of work covered by the three founding bodies including Environmental Stewardship and SSSI's.

2007 sees the approval of the Rural Development Programme for England 2007 to 2013. This is the umbrella programme that provides funding for Environmental Stewardship in addition to the England Woodland Grant Scheme and the Regional Development Agency managed rural development grants.

2009 The Campaign for the Farmed Environment is launched. The aim of this initiative is to retain and exceed the perceived environmental benefits that were provided by set aside. Key farming organizations including the National Farmers Union, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and Leaf are now working together to encourage farmers and land managers to voluntarily adopt important land management practices that will benefit the environment.