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Environmental Stewardship (ES) is an agri-environment scheme that provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management on their land.
It is designed to build on the recognised success of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme and the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
The primary objectives of ES are to:
conserve wildlife (biodiversity)
maintain and enhance landscape quality and character
protect the historic environment and natural resources
promote public access and understanding of the countryside
protect natural resources.
The secondary objectives of ES are:
genetic conservation
flood management.
There are three elements to ES:
Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) provides a straightforward approach to supporting the good stewardship of the countryside. This is done through simple and effective land management that goes beyond the Single Payment Scheme requirement to maintain land in good agricultural and environmental condition. It is open to all farmers and landowners.
Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) is the organic strand of ELS. It is geared to organic and organic/conventional mixed farming systems and is open to all farmers not receiving Organic Farming Scheme aid.
Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) involves more complex types of management, where land managers need advice and support, and agreements are tailored to local circumstances. HLS applications will be assessed against specific local targets and agreements will be offered where they meet these targets and represent good value for money.
Background information on ES can be found in Look after your land and be rewarded [1.6 MB].
For more information about Environmental Stewardship in your area, please contact your regional office.
