At Groundswell this week, Defra announced plans to simplify and open up Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier to make it more accessible. The scheme has recently been “by invitation” only but, later this summer, farmers and land managers will be able to begin the application process by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) for agroforestry, woodland, and new single-focus agreements. These simpler, “single-focus” agreements will initially include Species Rich Grassland and the conservation of scheduled monuments and will then be rolled out for management of wet grassland for wintering birds and management of orchards.
Defra is also planning to trial applications for Higher Tier on common land and increase moorland and rough grazing payments to bring them in line with SFI payment rates. This follows a sustained campaign by the Foundation for Common Land who has highlighted the issue that commons have not been able to apply to either Higher Tier or the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
The announcement also sets out how Natural England will prioritise applications. There is more information on all these points at Rolling out Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier – Farming.
