Applications open for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme
By Chris Wright, Partner and ARA specialist.
Applications are now open for the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme as announced by The Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
The scheme offers payments to support environmentally important sites such as moors and woodlands. The latest opening is related to agreements which will begin on January 1st, 2024. Unlike mid-tier, the high tier takes consideration of the applicant’s local environment. Applicants’ entrances are entered into a competitive process with funding awarded to those entrants who offer the largest improvements and also the best value for money. The grants are paid out over a number of years usually five, but can last up to ten years or more. Capital items are also available, with a range of grants for specific capital works. There are now more than 32,000 ongoing Countryside Stewardship agreements in place – with the scheme seeing a 94 per cent increase in uptake since 2020, including almost 4,000 Higher Tier agreements.
There are grants available to support habitat creation, restoration, and on-going management of:
- Species rich grasslands, wet grassland and water meadows
- Heathland and moorland
- Coastal sand dunes, vegetated shingle, saltmarsh, inter-tidal and saline habitats
- Fens, reedbeds, ponds and ditches
- Wood pastures and parklands, orchards, hedges and scrub woodland
- Woodland
Higher Tier also gives farmers access to a wider range of grants to:
- Protect vulnerable or threatened species
- Manage hedgerows, drystone walls, stock fencing and gates.
Need advice on Stewardship schemes? Get in touch with our team today.