Stewardship delivers the benefits

Environmental Stewardship is a system open to all landowners, farmers and growers for the delivery of certain environmental benefits for either a five or ten year period, writes Jon McCosh, of H&H Bowe.

Thereafter any agreement will hopefully be re-negotiated or rolled over for another period.

The schemes have been developed with the following primary objectives:

1. Maintaining and enhancing the landscape quality and character

2. Protecting the historic environment and natural resources

3. Conserving wildlife

4. Promoting public access and understanding of the countryside

With these aims in mind, three schemes have been developed which it is hoped will deliver these objectives, they are:

• The Entry Level Stewardship Scheme (ELS)

• The Organic Entry Level Stewardship Scheme (OELS)

• The Higher Level Stewardship Scheme (HLS)

The ELS and OELS are broadly very similar schemes, designed (for the vast majority of applicants) to have a “light environmental touch” on the existing farming enterprises. The HLS is a very different scheme, and will be covered in a later edition of this magazine.

The ELS scheme guarantees acceptance onto the first tier of environmental support payments, provided the farmer or landowner can meet the scheme requirements.

In order to do this each holding is allocated a points target, based on 30 points per hectare of land to be entered into the scheme. The exception is in the LFA where any parcel of land in excess of 15 hectares will only be allocated 8 points per hectare.

Points mean pounds sterling, so for every point of your target allocation you will receive £1 per year, every year for five years. i.e. a farm with a target of 2000 points will receive £2000 per annum. Payments are made six monthly in arrears for the term of the agreement.

The OELS is a similar scheme, but will require the business to be certified by one of the organic farming bodies. Initial conversion payments of £175 per hectare are also available during the first two years of conversion to full organic status. Each holding is again allocated a points target, but in this case this is based on 60 points per hectare on any land that is to be entered into scheme.

Within both schemes, farmers need to agree to undertake a mix of management options, each of which attracts a different number of points. All manner of items on the farm can potentially accrue points. Hedges, walls and ditches all count. Large in-field trees, traditional farm buildings, historic features, overwintered stubbles, cover crops and forage crops can all be used to help accumulate valuable points.

For those considering cutting back on fertiliser or adjusting application dates, low input options are available along with buffer strips. Other items such as the various management plans on offer can all be used, and additionally may help with the requirements of the various Farm Assurance Schemes i.e Manure Management Plans. Or why not consider maintaining a level of mixed stocking of cattle and sheep to help meet that target. You even get points for filling in the forms and colouring in the maps!

Remember, in most cases it will be possible to make an application without having to make major changes to your farming system. Isn’t it about time you considered ELS or OELS?

For more detailed advice from our dedicated Conservation and Environmental Team contact: H & H Bowe on 01228 640920

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