Agri-Environment Schemes
 | Agri-environment scheme is a term used to describe national (or local) schemes that pay farmers to farm in an environmentally sensitive way. These schemes have up until 2005 been targeted at specific areas throughout the country that are considered to have high conservation value. In 2005 with the introduction of the Environmental Stewardship scheme all farmers in England are eligible. As at 2005, there are three agri-environment schemes relevant to Dartmoor - the environmentally Sensitive Area scheme (ESA -1994 - 2004), Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS - 1992 – 2004)) and the new Environmental Stewardship (ES). Two of the schemes (ESA and CSS) are being phased out over the next 5 – 10 years, to be replaced by the new scheme Environmental Stewardship scheme. |
The new ES scheme covers the whole of Dartmoor. There are two levels of entry – the Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) and the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS). The ELS pays a flat rate of £30 per hectare for basic management works that are above and beyond Good Agricultural Practice.
The Higher Level Stewardship scheme makes higher payments for options requiring higher management input to conserve and enhance areas of high conservation value/ and or species of high biodiversity value. (See Action for Wildlife: the Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan)
The new ES scheme is based on a points system. Farmers have to score sufficient points per hectare in order to be successful. Farmers wishing to apply for HLS are required to complete a Farm Environment Plan (FEP). This records everything of conservation and environment interest on the farm. This FEP is then submitted with the HLS application for approval. The HLS application has to outline how these areas of interest that are highlighted in the FEP will be managed, in line with the objectives of the scheme. To see the targets for the Dartmoor area view the Hill Farm Project Links section.
The scheme is administered by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
For more information about ES follow the links to Defra’s website page via the Hill Farm Project links section.
The National Park Authority’s Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, has a service that will complete Farm Environment Plans (FEPs) for farmers, as well as the ELS and HLS applications. There is a fee for this service. For those interested in this service follow links to Hill Farm Project: Environmental Stewardship Advisory Service.
Page updated 30 November 2005
