Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Encyclopedia
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is an agri-environment scheme run by the United Kingdom
Government set up in 1991.
Originally introduced as a five-year pilot project by the Countryside Commission
, the scheme aimed to improve the environmental value of farmland throughout England
. The administration of the scheme was taken over by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
(MAFF) on 1 April 1996, and the scheme expanded to include new landscapes and features, including whole farm plans for restoring and recreating traditional walls and ditches, wildlife corridors in arable areas using uncropped margins in arable fields (with management to benefit associated wild flowers and birds), traditional buildings, and old meadows and pastures (important for maintaining and increasing biodiversity). In the meantime, the scheme was incorporated under the umbrella of the European Community's 'agri-environment’ programme which aims to protect the environment and the countryside through the promotion of green farming practices, which enabled grants to be part-funded through the Community. The scheme was incorporated into the England Rural Development Programme
on 1 January 2000.
In 2005, there were 16,636 agreement holders with 531,280 hectares under agreement.
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme closed to new applications in 2004 with the introduction of the Environmental Stewardship
Scheme. Existing agreements continue to be honoured; the last agreements will expire in 2013. The scheme is currently administered by staff at Natural England
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Government set up in 1991.
Originally introduced as a five-year pilot project by the Countryside Commission
Countryside Commission
The Countryside Commission was a statutory body in England and Wales, and later in England only...
, the scheme aimed to improve the environmental value of farmland throughout England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The administration of the scheme was taken over by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
(MAFF) on 1 April 1996, and the scheme expanded to include new landscapes and features, including whole farm plans for restoring and recreating traditional walls and ditches, wildlife corridors in arable areas using uncropped margins in arable fields (with management to benefit associated wild flowers and birds), traditional buildings, and old meadows and pastures (important for maintaining and increasing biodiversity). In the meantime, the scheme was incorporated under the umbrella of the European Community's 'agri-environment’ programme which aims to protect the environment and the countryside through the promotion of green farming practices, which enabled grants to be part-funded through the Community. The scheme was incorporated into the England Rural Development Programme
England Rural Development Programme
England Rural Development Programme was the instrument by which the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs fulfills its rural development obligations in England, as set out by the European Union. It is derived primarily from Council Regulation European Union Regulation No...
on 1 January 2000.
In 2005, there were 16,636 agreement holders with 531,280 hectares under agreement.
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme closed to new applications in 2004 with the introduction of the Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England. It was formally launched on 18 March 2005, although the first agreements did not start until 1 August 2005....
Scheme. Existing agreements continue to be honoured; the last agreements will expire in 2013. The scheme is currently administered by staff at Natural England
Natural England
Natural England is the non-departmental public body of the UK government responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils, are protected and improved...
.