Agri-environment schemes provide financial incentives for farmers to adopt environmentally beneficial land management practices. The schemes are part of the England Rural Development Programme
There are a number of agri-environment schemes for England, but only a few provide opportunities for farmers to offer permissive access.
The Ramblers' Association welcomes the environmental benefits achieved by agri-environment schemes, but the permissive access provided by agri-environment schemes in the past has been of questionable public benefit. However, new schemes have been developed which may provide opportunities to access areas of agricultural land typically closed off to walkers.
There are three Environmental Stewardship Schemes, of which the third is the most relevant to walkers.
Entry Level Stewardship. This is open to all farmers in England and aims to 'encourage a large number of farmers across a wide area of farmland to deliver simple yet effective environmental management'. The scheme directs funds towards the improvement of farmland bio-diversity; the protection of historic features; the maintenance of landscape character and a reduction in diffuse pollution (e.g. soil erosion and nutrient leaching). There are no access options for farmers under this scheme.
Organic Entry Level Stewardship. This is similar to ELS, but ‘recognises the greater environmental benefit that organic farming systems deliver’. Farmers receive grants for conversion to organic practices. Again, there are no access options available under this scheme.
Higher Level Stewardship. The HLS aims to deliver a higher level of environmental benefits through more complex management techniques. The objectives for the scheme are: wildlife conservation; protection of the historic environment; maintenance and enhancement of landscape quality and character; promotion of public access and understanding; and resource protection.
As funding for schemes is limited, DEFRA must prioritise the HLS applications they receive. Where applications have an access element, they aim to give higher priority to permissive access which would fulfil an aspect of a rights of way improvement plan; create links in the rights of way network; provide a means of access to isolated CRoW access land; link areas of CRoW land; create new routes to inaccessible features; or provide educational opportunities on farms where school and other groups can learn about farming and the countryside.
English Woodland Grant Scheme. In addition to the stewardship scheme the Forestry Commission runs its own. There are six grant elements available - Woodland Planning, Assessment, Regeneration, Improvement, Management and Creation, although with regional budgets and priorities, availability may vary from region to region. In most cases the landowner must grant access, for at least 11 months of the year, for a minimum of 30 years.
More information and agri-environment schemes links
