Countryside Stewardship

An update on CSHT and our annual report  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Countryside Stewardship, Farming and Countryside Programme

The Farming and Countryside Programme’s annual report is out, highlighting how funding has helped farmers, foresters, and land managers support nature, sustainable food, and innovation. In addition to this, guidance for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier applications is available, with the online service opening next week for invited applicants who have completed pre-application advice.

An update on Higher Level Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Countryside Stewardship, environmental land management schemes

To better reflect the contributions made by those with HLS agreements and to support the continued protection and management of these sites, we’re increasing HLS payment rates. We’re also encouraging those considering applying for a CSHT agreement to familiarise themselves with the process to prepare.

Watch: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier webinar

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Countryside Stewardship, Webinars

Earlier this month, we hosted a webinar for farmers and land managers in England to learn more about Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and the pre-application process. In this post, you’ll find a recording of the webinar and a summary of the information in the session, reflecting the questions put to the team. 

CSHT mirror agreements and HLS extensions: an overview 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Countryside Stewardship, Sustainable Farming Incentive
Close up of grass and flora underneath cloudy skies at All Hallows Marshes, Hoo, Kent.

If you have a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agri-environment agreement that expires in 2024 or Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement that expires in 2024 or 2025, we want to support you as you transition to our environmental land management (ELM) schemes. In this post, I’ll share an overview for those with CSHT and HLS …

Wet weather and temporary adjustments to agri-environment agreements

Heavy rainfall has a devastating and long-term impact on farming. This disruption not only affects livelihoods but also has wider implications for food security and the economy too. We're introducing temporary adjustments and easements within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the SFI Pilot, Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (ES) to support farmers and land …