Countryside Stewardship Scheme
About this service
What is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme?
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is a grant scheme administered by the Rural Payments Agency on behalf of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, commonly known as DEFRA.
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme provides Norfolk farmers and landowners with annual revenue payments as a financial reward for creating and managing farmland habitats that support conservation
Alongside the payments you will receive by maintaining and enhancing habitats, you get the gratification of knowing you are supporting vital farmland species on your land.
Rewarding
With Countryside Stewardship, there are several ways to receive payments by taking appropriate measures, including…
Hedgerow management
Creating flower-rich grasslands
Winter cover crops
Producing winter bird food
Woodland Management
Organic conversion
Management of historic features
Introducing agroforestry
Heathland management
Flood mitigation measures
Wetland habitat management
Membership
Become a member!
There are two Countryside Stewardship Scheme options currently available, and these are Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier.
Mid Tier is more accessible, allowing all farmers and land managers to get involved.
The Higher Tier is designed for more complex or environmentally significant sites, coming with a wide range of available options and capital works, but this tier requires a more involved collaboration with governmental bodies.
For both tiers, there is a suite of Countryside Stewardship Capital grants available to support the management of habitats, e.g. sheep fencing grants.
For more information about how the Countryside Stewardship Scheme can help you, please enquire via our online form.
Interested?: get in touch!
Contact Us
Who do I need to speak to?
Nathan has been involved with Countryside Stewardship scheme for many years and understands the steps to take in achieving a successful application.
He will be able to help develop a scheme suitable for your farm business, using relevant management options for the habitats and features of the land. He will also enable negotiations with Natural England or Forestry Commission, to ensure sign off for the scheme is successful.
Testimonials
What people say about Norfolk FWAG
Case studies
What we've been up to
Fen Restoration Near Norwich
Discover how Norfolk FWAG transformed a derelict marsh near Norwich into a thriving lowland fen, restoring biodiversity, improving flood resilience, and rewetting peatlands to combat climate change. Project Duration: 2022–2025Location: Near Norwich, NorfolkFunding: Environment Agency Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF) Background Norfolk FWAG was approached by a landowner with a
Farm for the Future Programme
Supporting Farmers Through Agricultural Transition In 2024, Norfolk FWAG ran our third round of the Farm for the Future programme, delivered in partnership with the Royal Countryside Fund. Funded by Defra’s Farming Resilience Fund, it helped farmers in England tackle challenges and understand the opportunities presented by the agricultural transition.
Test & Trial – Understanding Farmer Attitudes to Collaboration in Norfolk
In 2024–2025, Norfolk FWAG led a Test & Trial (T&T) project on behalf of DEFRA to understand how farmers perceive collaborative working, particularly within farmer cluster groups. The aim was to understand what encourages or discourages farmers from joining or forming such groups – and how future policy and funding
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How to apply for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme?
If you’re wondering how to apply for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, this is where our farming advisory service plays a significant role. The process of applying for this scheme is a sizeable commitment that may require multiple days to complete. This depends on the size of the land and the complexity of the Countryside Stewardship options selected.
A typical step-by-step process to Countryside Stewardship involves:
- On-farm discussions with you and your team regarding CS and how best to proceed.
- Surveys and mapping of your land to provide the most up-to-date information as part of your application.
- You and your Norfolk FWAG adviser liaising with the other necessary parties, such as governmental bodies.
- And finally, completing the online application.
How does the Countryside Stewardship Scheme help me?
Our expert advisers work closely with Norfolk farmers and landowners who are interested in building a Countryside Stewardship Scheme; members of Norfolk FWAG will be able to take advantage of our preferential rates when employing our services for multiple days at a time, which may be required.
Norfolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group will not only help by ensuring the management options selected are appropriate for the relevant species and habitats on your land, but also if these options are realistic for you to achieve. Through our understanding of the fine balance between food production and on-farm conservation – coupled with our rich years of experience with farm environmental schemes – we can provide you with the best service possible and a successful Countryside Stewardship application.
A typical step-by-step process to Countryside Stewardship involves:
- On-farm discussions with you and your team regarding CS and how best to proceed.
- Surveys and mapping of your land to provide the most up-to-date information as part of your application.
- You and your Norfolk FWAG adviser liaising with the other necessary parties, such as governmental bodies.
- And finally, completing the online application.