Introduction to Countryside Stewardship (CS)

Updated on the 16th of January 2025

Countryside Stewardship (CS) is a flagship environmental scheme designed to help farmers and land managers enhance biodiversity, improve landscapes, and tackle climate challenges. Whether you’re looking to restore hedgerows, manage woodlands, or protect watercourses, CS provides the funding and support to make it happen—all while keeping your land productive.

With 2024 and 2025 updates now in place, CS has never been more accessible or rewarding. From streamlined applications to increased payment rates, the scheme is tailored to meet the needs of farmers across England. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

What is Countryside Stewardship?

At its heart, Countryside Stewardship is about balance. It’s a way to manage land sustainably, addressing environmental priorities while maintaining agricultural productivity. The scheme is open to farmers, woodland owners, and other land managers, offering multi-year agreements or standalone capital grants for one-off projects.

Key priorities include:

• Enhancing biodiversity by creating and managing habitats for wildlife.
• Improving water quality through measures like buffer strips and sediment traps.
• Restoring historic features such as stone walls and ponds.
• Tackling climate change by planting trees, managing soils, and increasing carbon storage.

CS is designed with flexibility in mind, offering different tiers to suit varying scales of ambition and complexity:

• Mid-Tier: Ideal for farmers looking to deliver targeted environmental benefits while continuing with day-to-day farming.
• Higher Tier: Tailored for more complex projects involving protected habitats, woodlands, or collaborative landscape-scale actions.
• Capital Grants: For specific one-off improvements, such as hedgerow planting or water management structures.

What’s new for 2025?

The latest updates to Countryside Stewardship make it easier and more rewarding than ever to participate:

1. Increased payment rates:
   • Rates have risen across many options, with up to £1,200 per hectare annually for riparian buffer strips and £22 per metre for new hedgerow planting.
2. Expanded eligibility:
   • Tenant farmers and smaller farms now have greater access, with updated rules allowing short-term leases to qualify for multi-year agreements.
3. New funding categories:
   • Agroforestry, pollinator habitats, and natural flood management measures are now included, offering payments of up to £6,800 per hectare for tree planting in agricultural systems.
4. Simplified applications:
   • The combined platform for CS and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) reduces administrative burdens, enabling farmers to apply for multiple schemes in one place.

How can CS benefit your land?

Imagine turning a neglected pond into a thriving wetland teeming with wildlife, or planting hedgerows that provide shelter for pollinators while reducing soil erosion. CS funding empowers you to:

• Boost biodiversity: Create wildflower margins, restore woodlands, or establish bird nesting habitats.
• Protect natural resources: Install buffer strips to prevent runoff into watercourses or create leaky dams to mitigate flooding.
• Support climate action: Integrate trees into your farming system or improve soil health with cover crops.
• Preserve heritage: Maintain dry-stone walls or restore historic features with tailored funding.

How to get started with Countryside Stewardship

Getting started with CS is straightforward. Here’s a simple guide:

1. Understand your options:
   • Explore the tiers and grants available to identify what suits your land’s needs and your goals.
2. Assess your land:
   • Walk your fields and consider areas for improvement. Could hedgerows enhance biodiversity? Is there an eroding slope that needs attention?
3. Register your land:
   • Sign up with the Rural Payments service if you haven’t already. This step ensures your eligibility and gets your application underway.
4. Plan your application:
   • Use tools like AskGrant to calculate costs and explore funding opportunities. DEFRA advisors are also on hand to provide guidance.
5. Submit your application:
   • The streamlined process makes it easy to apply for CS and SFI together, saving time and ensuring you access all relevant support.
6. Prepare for follow-ups:
   • Be ready for site visits to review your proposed actions. Keep maps, photos, and other documentation organised.

Why now?

The 2025 updates make Countryside Stewardship more accessible, flexible, and rewarding than ever before. Higher payments, new options, and simplified applications mean there’s no better time to get involved. Whether you’re planting trees, restoring habitats, or improving water management, CS offers the tools and funding to make a lasting impact.

If you’re ready to unlock the potential of your land, AskGrant is here to help. From assessing your options to crafting a compelling application, we simplify the process so you can focus on what matters most. Sign up today and let AskGrant guide you every step of the way.

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