Natural England - Funding for land management
Funding for land management
We provide funding for farmers and other land managers in England to reward them for managing the land in ways that improve the environment.
Environmental Stewardship
This is the major national agri-environment scheme. It provides about £400m funding each year to farmers and other land managers in England who help to improve the quality of our countryside for wildlife and people. The Higher Level Stewardship scheme was developed because different parts of the country require different approaches. The aim is to secure the maximum environmental benefit across 110 of our most important landscapes.
You can find out more in Environmental Stewardship.
We could not run Environmental Stewardship without the expertise and knowledge of the 37,000 farmers and land managers across England who have joined the scheme. We also work closely with their representative bodies and land agents. We produce a regular newsletter, Environmental Stewardship Update for all those engaged in the scheme.
Other available schemes
The Energy Crops Scheme offers grants to farmers in England for the establishment of miscanthus and short-rotation coppice. We also manage the agreements made under the former ESA, Countryside Stewardship, and Wildlife Enhancement Scheme.
Although some forms of woodland management can be funded under Environmental Stewardship, woodland owners and managers should also consider The English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS). This is the Forestry Commission's suite of grants designed to develop the co-ordinated delivery of public benefits from England's woodlands.
Where is the funding going?
We provide online maps that show all the land in publicly funded agri-environment schemes. The maps show the extent and distribution of land that is in the Environmental Stewardship Scheme; Countryside Stewardship Scheme; Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme; and the English Woodland Grant Scheme.
You can view the map (opens in new window) showing schemes in your local area. Just enter your parish, postcode or place name in the search box above the map.
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Agri-Environment Schemes in England report
The most comprehensive analysis of agri-environment schemes (AES) yet undertaken has been published by Natural England. The report draws on research from the entire 22-year history of the schemes and highlights how they have brought together farmers and conservationists to fulfil the twin goals of caring for the natural environment and securing sustainable food production.
