COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP Countryside Stewardship is a new scheme which replaces Environmental Stewardship, The English Woodland Grant Scheme and Capital Grants from the Catchment Sensitive Farming. It has been designed to encourage land managers to protect and enhance the natural environment, in particular wildlife and water quality. Unlike previous schemes applicants will be scored against a criteria and not every applicant will be successful. Countryside Stewardship has 3 main elements. Higher Tier – this will focus on areas of environmental significance which need more complex management through the help of Natural England or The Forestry Commission. “Covers the most environmentally significant sites, commons and woodlands Mid Tier – these agreements will look at the wider countryside and its management, through improving the farmed environment for pollinators and farmland birds by choosing appropriate options and reducing water pollution through land management taking into account the wider area and not just individual holdings. “Options and capital items to achieve simple, but effective environmental benefit” Lower Tier – This replaces Capital Grants to improve hedgerows and boundaries, water quality and to look at woodland management, establishment and tree health.
13 Gamecover & Environmental 2019
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