Countryside Stewardship Scheme

The Countryside Stewardship Grant Scheme is the Government's main scheme for conserving and improving the countryside. Farmers and landowners enter into a 10-year agreement to manage their land in an environmentally beneficially way, and in return receive annual payments and capital grants.

You can apply for the Countryside Stewardship Grant Scheme if you are a farmer, a landowner or manager of land - and that can include individuals, community groups, local authorities and voluntary groups.

The amount of money that you receive will depend on the type and amount of work that you enter into under the scheme. Methods of payment also vary, for example land management payments are made annually and capital payments are awarded on completion of work.

You can find out more information about the Countryside Stewardship Scheme by contacting the Woodlands Officer at Red Rose Forest.

Click here to to view the web site for the Government department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is also a great place to find out other grants and schemes that are available.