What is Countryside Stewardship:
Countryside Stewardship (CS) provides financial incentives for farmers, woodland owners, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the environment. The Countryside Stewardship Scheme was originally an agri-environment scheme run by the United Kingdom Government set up in 1991. The main priorities of the scheme are to protect and enhance the natural environment, in particular the diversity of wildlife and water quality.
CSPI is a two-year capital grant that allows you to apply for the FY2 Woodland Infrastructure capital item. You can apply and start your agreement at any point during the year after 8 February 2022 when applications open.
The scheme is:
- Open to all eligible farmers, woodland owners, foresters and other land managers
- Suitable for many types of land use, for example conventional and organic farmland, coastal areas, uplands and woodlands
- Competitive
- Scored against local priority targets to maximise environmental benefit
The aim of the scheme is to look after and improve the environment by:
- conserving and restoring wildlife habitats
- flood risk management
- woodland creation and management
- keeping the character of the countryside
- preserving historical features in the landscape
- encouraging educational access
- reducing widespread water pollution from agriculture
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP FUNDING?
You can currently apply for:
- Mid Tier – choose from all available multi-year options and capital items to form an agreement which delivers local environmental benefits
- Higher Tier – more complex agreements for land in environmentally sensitive sites, commons or woodlands which requires support from Natural England or the Forestry Commission
- Capital Grants Manual – now includes 67 capital items covering boundaries, trees, orchards and hedgerows
- Woodland Tree Health Manual and Woodland Management Plan or Woodland Creation and Maintenance Manual – support for new or improved woodland and forestry
- Protection and Infrastructure Grant – This is a new standalone capital grant open all year round from 8th February 2022. It is a two year capital grant for support to create Woodland Infrastructure
