Countryside Stewardship (CS)
What is CS?
*Please note these schemes are still being developed by DEFRA and therefore this information may change
Countryside Stewardship (CS) provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the environment.
By providing annual payments and capital grants for a wide range of activities on different land types. CS supports the conservation and restoration of habitat and protection of the historic environment, as well as improving air and water quality.
CS is being evolved from the previous CAP agri-environmental schemes to the new ELM schemes. This will include introducing additional actions, improved access for tenant farmers and increased access to Higher Tier options.
The scheme is an offer of annual payments and capital grants where appropriate. Please check Government websites for most up to date scheme for up to date scheme criteria and offers.
On all commons and shared grazing land. Agreements on this land last for 10 years. These agreements can only include land parcels that are common or shared grazing land.
CS annual payments
There are lots of options available for farmers and land managers, however Common land and shared grazing is only eligible for the Higher Tier of Countryside Stewardship.
Higher Tier is for land that requires more complex management tailored to the individual site – this includes common land
Mid Tier provides a range of options and capital items that together help to deliver a broad range of environmental benefits
Land managers/farmers need to select the appropriate management options when applying. For example (2023 payment rates) GS6 is a payment of up to £182/ha for the management of species rich grassland; LH1 pays up to £366/ha for management of lowland heathland; SP3 concerns bracken control and SP6 is a cattle grazing supplement and UP3 is management of moorland (£55/ha)
Link to 2023 payment rates:
CS Grants include ( but not exclusively):
Higher Tier Capital Grants
Some capital grants are part of Higher Tier. These grants provide 3-year agreements offering capital items to achieve additional environmental benefits alongside existing Higher Tier agreements.
Implementation Plan (PA1) and Feasibility Study (PA2) grants
Implementation Plan and Feasibility Study grants provide funding for more complex agreements and projects. You must speak to a Natural England advisor before applying for one of these grants
CS+
Countryside Stewardship Plus is being developed to encourage the right things to happen in the right places, enable local join-up to deliver bigger and better results and facilitate testing of innovative payment mechanisms, including payment by results.
CS on Common Land
Applying for CS on Common Land
There are mandatory requirements for applying for a CS scheme on common land which are outlined in the ‘Common land and shared grazing: supplement to the Countryside Stewardship manual’. These include, but are not limited to:
to establish a valid commons association that represents those involved in the scheme
to create an internal agreement between keys parties on how the common is to be managed under the scheme
to create a bank account on behalf of the association
Common land and shared grazing supplement
The supplement contains details of the steps that must be followed before making an application on common land and shared grazing:
Common land and shared grazing is only eligible for the Higher Tier of Countryside Stewardship. Commoners/graziers need to agree and name one person to sign the application. This person will then be responsible for maintaining the relevant agreement, if accepted, on behalf of all the commoners/graziers.
Internal Agreements
An Internal Agreement between the land owner/ manager and the commoners actively grazing the common is required as part of a CS scheme. More information on creating an internal agreement for your common can be found here:
https://foundationforcommonland.org.uk/toolkit/internal-agreements-and-heads-of-terms?rq=internal