Commons Excluded from ELM Schemes
Defra and the RPA have this week acknowledged to the Foundation for Common Land that there is no mechanism for common land to enter SFI or CS Higher Tier schemes in 2026. This is due to a lack of functionality in the Rural Payments Service computer system and no current plans to offer an off system application mechanism.
Defra and the RPA have stated there is no guarantee this situation will change in 2027 leaving hundreds of thousands of hectares of common land and shared grazing either in no schemes or stuck in lower paying old HLS schemes. And this is after common land has already had their BPS payments removed. Defra has confirmed there is no intention to increase HLS payment rates to match CSHT payment rates so commoners and the owners of common land are being asked to deliver the same environmental outcomes for a lower rate than non common land.
New SFI and CSHT schemes on commons not only would underpin the viability of nearly 4000 marginal farm businesses in our most iconic landscapes but are essential to achieving the government’s Environmental Improvement Plan targets for nature recovery, peatland restoration and natural flood management. Common Land comprises 21% of all land in England designated for nature (our SSSIs) and 82% of all common land is in National Parks and National Landscapes.
This news comes on top of the disappointing news that Defra has withdrawn the SFI MOR1 action to survey moorland. The Foundation for Common Land has assisted over 210,000 ha of moorland to survey soil depth and vegetation through a digital phone app. This data can be used to plan opportunities to improve outcomes for public goods. Many commons could not enter due to the early closure of the scheme in 2025 so have been excluded from this too.
Langstrath Common in Borrowdale, the Lake District. A 1600 ha common, their HLS scheme runs out in 20 and they are currently excluded from applying for a new scheme. The six graziers are mostly National Trust tenants.
Brant Fell, Yorkshire Dales National Park. A 2,700 ha common not currently in any land management schemes and is currently excluded from applying for any schemes. Over 20 graziers are affected.