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Have any questions?
01603 814869
Have any questions?
01603 814869
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. For Norfolk Farmers and landowners, this scheme provides annual revenue payments for the provision and management of farmland habitats.
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme allows farms to receive financial rewards for their conservation efforts. 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.
With Countryside Stewardship, there are several ways to receive payments by taking appropriate measures, including.
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.
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:
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.
During the winter of 2023-2024, Norfolk FWAG team members, Evan Burdett and Henry Walker, worked with Norfolk County Council to identify ponds eligible for restoration and opportunities for pond creation to reverse terrestrialisation.
Our team set out with the goal of creating a detailed report that would provide an understanding of this situation, which would then assist in targeting environmental stewardship options and other initiatives.
In celebration of Earth Day, a spirited group of volunteers from Crisp Malt joined forces with representatives from Norfolk FWAG — Henry Walker and Bea White — along with farmer, Nick Anema, for a day of tree guard removal.
As the Norfolk delivery partner for the DEFRA Future Farming Resilience Fund-funded Royal Countryside Fund run, and Farm for the Future programme, Norfolk FWAG’s Sasha Wells and Bea White are providing essential support to farmers.