Environmental Stewardship
Katie prepares and submits applications for the following environmental stewardship schemes, taking into account business needs, farmers' objectives, and farm characteristics.
Entry Level Stewardship (ELS)
This scheme is available to all farmers, and has a guaranteed income (£30/ha or £12/acre). Payments are made six monthly in arrears, and the scheme runs for five years.
ELS has an options/points based system, which allows the farmer to achieve the points that meet his farming system. Options include: hedge and ditch management, buffer strips and field corners, maintaining traditional buildings, protection of in-field trees, management of woodland edges, and low input grassland.
Applications are submitted using ELS online. A fixed fee is given to all clients, and the quoted amount will include mileage, telephone calls and copying; so there are no hidden extras.
Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (UELS)
This scheme is available to farmers in a Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA) only, and provides for a higher payment to ELS. It is the successor to Hill Farm Allowance (HFA).
Additional options to ELS available include: maintaining moorland walls, small scale capital works, no supplementary feeding within 6 metres of watercourse, and minimum stocking densities from May to September.
Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS)
This scheme provides for an increased annual payment of £24/acre (£60/ha).
Higher Level Stewardship (HLS)
This scheme is discretionary. HLS agreements are for ten years with a five year break. The funding available is dependent upon the level of conservation management undertaken.
Applications for entering HLS are detailed and include preparing a Farm Environmental Plan (FEP), which assesses the environmental value of the farm and its potential to deliver additional environmental benefits.
HLS involves more complex environmental management, options include - maintenance, restoration and creation of successional areas and scrub, undersown spring cereals, and arable reversion to grassland.
Under HLS farmers may receive payments towards capital works such as hedge laying, wooden field gates, fencing along stream or woodland, and tree planting.
There is also a payment from Natural England towards the cost of a surveyor carrying out the FEP and application submission.