A
Guide to Good Practice
Agri-environment
Schemes
On
The Federation of Yorkshire Commoners and Moorland Graziers aims:
1.
To be a representative voice to support and protect the commons
2.
To support better collaboration amongst commoners
3.
To ensure that hill farming on common land is a worthwhile and viable
activity
4.
To promote positive management of the environment by commoners
5.
To improve public understanding of the commons
6.
To these ends, to engage with all interested parties to put forward the
case of the commoners in a vigorous and constructive manner.
The Federation has prepared a series of ‘Guides to
Good Practice’ which are intended to help commoners to deal with selected key
issues. The Guides aim to share experience from different commons and to help
commoners understand how others approach key issues.
Guides to Good Practice have been prepared for the
following issues:
Vegetation
Management
Management
Planning
Agri-environment
Schemes
Marketing
Each ‘Guide to Good Practice’ generally consists of
a 2 page summary together with the main guide.
It is intended that the Guides will be updated on a
regular basis, as new information is gathered and new policies or advice are
introduced. Please contact the administrator of the Federation with any
comments or suggestions.
The other Guides are available from:
Miss M Gibson, Administrator, Federation of
Contents
1. Introduction
An introduction to the guide
and to Environmental Stewardship
2. Introducing
Environmental Stewardship
An overview of Environmental
Stewardship and what it involves
3. Is an
Agri-Environment Scheme right for our common?
A look at what commoners and
graziers will need to discuss and decide before making an application for
Environmental Stewardship
4. Applying
for the Scheme
How to approach making an
application for Environmental Stewardship
5. Sources
of further information and advice
Sources of more detailed
information, listing addresses, phone numbers, internet sites and publications
1. Introduction
The guide is intended to
be a useful source of guidance to commoners and graziers on upland and moorland
commons who are considering entering into an Environmental Stewardship
agreement and hopes to assist the decision making process.
Environmental
Stewardship was introduced in 2005 and hopes to secure widespread environmental
benefits. Environmental Stewardship replaces the Countryside Stewardship Scheme
(CSS), Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) scheme and English Nature’s
Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (WES) which are now closed to new applicants.
There are two levels of
Environmental Stewardship: Entry and Higher level. The Entry Level Scheme (ELS)
and Organic Entry Level Scheme (OELS) make payments for simple but effective
measures to improve the environment and the Higher Level Scheme (HLS) will concentrate
on more complex measures that require advice and expertise. Existing WES
agreements will be transferred to the HLS.
Environmental
Stewardship may offer commoners and graziers a chance to increase the economic
viability of their operations.
Payments are made for
improving the environment and it is hoped that Environmental Stewardship will
be more accessible and flexible than the former Agri-Environment schemes. ELS /
OELS measures include management of moorland and rough grazing and stone wall
protection and maintenance. HLS measures include the maintenance and
restoration of moorland with rough grazing and there are a range of supplements
for changes to dwarf shrub heath management practices through cutting and
burning, shepherding, seasonal livestock exclusion, bracken control and
moorland re-wetting. There is also a supplement for supporting group
applications including those on common land. There are capital payments for
example, for wall restoration and grip blocking
The Entry Level Scheme
is based on a simple scale of points = pounds, whereas under the Higher Level
Scheme payments are made according to the measures undertaken.
The schemes are
administered by the Rural Development Service (RDS) whose duties and
responsibilities are to be overtaken by a new agency - Natural England – in
2007.
Commons which are
subjected to a Countryside Management agreement or Environmentally Sensitive
Areas agreement are not able to participate in Environmental Stewardship on the
same land until these agreements have expired. However, you can make the
necessary preparations to ensure you are ready to apply for the new scheme once
the old scheme has expired.
2. Introducing Environmental Stewardship
Entry Level Stewardship
The Entry Level Scheme
(ELS) is a whole farm scheme open to all farmers and land managers. Acceptance
will be guaranteed providing you can meet the scheme requirements. It aims to
encourage large numbers of farmers to deliver simple yet effective
environmental management.
The RDS will give you a
points target. For land within a Less Favoured Area which is in enclosures of
over 15 ha, 8 points are required. You can then chose from a range of options
e.g. stone wall protection and maintenance, moorland and rough grazing etc.
Each option will earn points towards your total. There is flexibility to decide
how much of each option to have and where to put them.
The payments rate for
land parcels of more than 15 hectares within the Less Favoured Area (LFA) is £8
/ hectare / year. Payments are made every six months. Applications for the
scheme will require you to prepare a simple record of features on the land
using a Farm Environment Record (FER) map supplied by RDS.
Agreements are legally
binding and last for five years.
Organic Entry Level
Stewardship
Organic Entry Level
Stewardship (OELS) is a whole farm scheme similar to ELS, open to farmers who
manage all or part of their land organically. If your common is registered with
an Organic Inspection Body you should apply for OELS rather than ELS.
Higher Level Stewardship
The Higher Level Scheme
(HLS) aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority
situations and areas. The HLS is discretionary and concentrates on the more
complex types of management where land managers need advice and support and
where agreements need to be tailored to local circumstances.
Funds for HLS are
limited and agreements will be allocated where they are likely to achieve the
most environmental benefits. Applications will be scored against priority
targets for the management of a variety of features within a Joint Character
Area. Payment will be made according to the type of work you enter into the
scheme and are made every six months. Agreements will usually run for ten years.
HLS requires a Farm
Environment Plan (FEP) which appraises the environment value of land by
identifying environmental features, assessing their condition and suggesting
appropriate HLS management options for them.
FEPs need to be carried
out by those who have experience of the practical issues involved in the five
main objectives of the scheme namely: wildlife, landscape, natural resource
protection, historic environment and public access. The applicant may therefore
decide to employ a consultant who is familiar with the FEP process. The
applicant will be paid for the FEP as long as it meets the required standards
and accompanies a properly completed HLS application. Payment will be according
to land area.
3. Is an Agri-Environment Scheme right for our
Common?
Environmental
Stewardship may offer you a chance to increase the economic viability of your
operations, but there are may other factors that need to be considered.
Discussions and decision
making should take place through a formal commons association which must be
established to authorise any agreement. The commons association would clarify
the relationships between rights holders, prescribe a decision making process,
identify responsibilities and offer individual members indemnity.
The Federation can
support and assist in the formation of commons associations.
1. Find out about the options available under
Environmental Stewardship.
The
first point of contact should be your Rural Development Service advisor who
will suggest the options available for your common. You should then look into
the practicalities of subscribing to each option.
2. Establish how much money is available for each
measure.
Calculate
how much money you would receive for each measure. You should consider if the
payments are likely to cover the cost or lost income.
3. Decide on the most practical and profitable option.
For
the ELS, your RDS advisor will be able to help you decide on the most
appropriate options. You should consider if the changes that need to be made
fit in with your long term plans and are likely to benefit you financially.
Some options may require the off-wintering of sheep- in which case sufficient
off-wintering must be available. You should also consider if you think the payments
are worthwhile in terms of workload.
Under
the HLS, the choice of options will be more restricted and your RDS advisor
will suggest which options will be included in any agreement offer.
All
commoners and graziers should be involved in negotiating a management agreement
and negotiations can be carried out through the federation.
4. Clarify the role of each individual in implementing
the management agreement.
All
those with a legal interest in the land, including commoners and graziers, landowners,
and sporting and shooting tenants should be brought together for initial
discussions as they will need to be party to any management agreement
forthcoming. All parties should be agreed about the action that needs to be
taken e.g. reducing sheep numbers from the moor, and their individual role in
the management agreement.
All
registered rights holders need to be party to the agreement. For HLS the RDS
advisor will have some discretion over who needs to be involved and will
normally wish to ensure that this includes all active rights holders and others
who are likely to influence the outcomes of land management.
5. Decide how payments are to be divided.
As
payment levels may change it is sensible to agree on a formula for dividing
payments between individuals. Payments will be divided between common rights
holders and other who are party to the Environmental Stewardship agreement such
as the owners and the holders of shooting rights.
Environmental
Stewardship agreements will prescribe burning and cutting management, bracken
control and grip blocking where appropriate, as well as grazing management and
payments will include compensation both for profit foregone and for positive
management. The division of payments should reflect this.
For
commons graziers, payments will usually be divided according to the number of
rights. However, there may be Commoners who do not use their Common Rights and
do not turn sheep out onto the moor. Non-graziers should be included in
negotiations as it is preferable to have all owners of rights signing up to the
agreement. You may consider following options…
i)
Non-graziers are paid a nominal fee per right
in return for a guarantee that they will abide by the terms of the agreement
and not exercise their rights for the duration of the agreement
ii)
No payments are made to non-graziers and all
graziers agree to reduce their stocking rates to compensate if non graziers
resume grazing.
6. Consider the legal issues surrounding applying for
an Agri-Environment Scheme.
Remember
that Environmental Stewardship agreements are legally binding management
agreements and payments can be retained or reclaimed if the conditions are not
adhered too.
7. Encourage neighbouring commons to apply for the
scheme.
If
your common is not fenced from neighbouring commons then it may be harder to
fulfil the requirements of certain options, particularly options that require a
reduction in grazing. Encourage neighbouring commons to apply at the same time
in order to address these issues.
4. Applying for the Scheme-
1. Where to start
i)
Contact a committee member of the Federation
of Yorkshire Commoners and Moorland Graziers. They will be able to make the
necessary arrangements to bring commoners and graziers together to discuss
entry into the scheme, and offer advice and support.
ii)
Contact others with a legal interest in the
common such as landowners, and shooting rights holders.
iii)
Contact the Rural Development Service who put
you in touch with your area advisor, will provide you with more information on
the options available, how to apply and how to take things forwards. If SSSI
are likely to be affected then also notify English Nature.
2. Have a meeting.
Bring
the interested parties together to discuss the options available and the
implications of subscribing to the scheme. Invite your fellow commoners and
graziers, your Rural Development Service advisor, members of the Federation of
Yorkshire Commoners and Moorland Graziers and others with a legal interest in
the common.
3. Establish your objectives.
Discuss
your objectives with your fellow commoners and graziers. Establish what your
views are in terms of profitability, stocking rates and labour. Discuss if
entering into an Environmental Stewardship agreement is compatible with you
objectives.
4. Establish a Commons Association.
A
formal commons association must be established to take any negotiations
forward. It would clarify the relationships between rights holders, prescribe a
decision making process, identify responsibilities and offer individual members
indemnity. A commons association is essential to authorise and legitimise any
management agreement forthcoming.
5. Be flexible.
Establishing
an agri-environment agreement on a large common with many interest groups
involved can be very complex and time consuming as there may be individuals
with different opinions on the management of the common. Flexibility will make
negotiations between individual commoners and graziers, the owner, shooting
rights holders, the RDS, English Nature and other interest groups easier and
will make the possibility of entering a scheme more likely.
For
example, commoners and graziers may have different opinions on reducing sheep
numbers. If sheep numbers are to be reduced the normal procedure would be for
commoners and graziers to reduce their numbers on a pro-rata basis. However,
some may wish to remove all their sheep and others may wish to maintain current
numbers. With a flexible approach it would be possible to divide up
Environmental Stewardship payments accordingly, for example, according to the
number of sheep removed.
6. Consider asking an independent person to help
negotiate with fellow Commoners and Graziers and the Rural Development Service.
In
your negotiations you will find that individuals will have different views on
the management of the moor and of Environmental Stewardship. An independent
professional will be able to look at the interests of each individual and
suggest a solution which may require a certain amount of compromise.
7. Allow plenty of time.
Begin
your discussions as early as possible as getting full agreement on an
Environmental Stewardship management plan may take a considerable amount of
time. A large amount of information will need to be collected and many
decisions will need to be taken before an application is submitted. Once the
application is submitted it may then take some time for it to be authorised and
payments are made.
8. Farm Environment Record / Farm Environment Plan
Applications
for Environmental Stewardship need to be accompanied by a vegetation survey.
Applications for Entry Level Stewardship require a simple record of the environmental
features of the land in the form of a Farm Environment Record. Higher Level
Stewardship applications require a Farm Environment Plan for which Professional
assistance may be required. You should establish what is required at an early
stage and make the necessary arrangements.
5.
Sources of Information and Advice
The Federation of
Address: The
Administrator
2
HX7
6NJ
Telephone: 01422
845399
English Nature
Address: Northminster House
PE1 1UA
Telephone: 01733 455000
Local Offices: North and
Genesis 1 Asquith
House
University Road
YO10 52Q DL8
5QA
Telephone 01904 435500 01969 623447
Local Office:
Bull Ring House
Northgate
WF1 3BJ
Telephone: 01924 334500
Website: www.english-nature.org.uk
Specific web pages:
www.english-nature.org.uk/special/sssi
Information
on managing an SSSI, SSSI details such as maps, reasons for designation,
operations requiring English Nature consent, English Nature views on the
management of the SSSI, condition assessment etc
www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/Handbooks/
‘The
Upland Management Handbook’ (downloadable) - Information on appropriate
stocking rates and management techniques
Publications: The Upland Management
Handbook
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs – Rural Payments Agency
Address (local office):
Northallerton
DL6 1AD
Telephone:
-main switchboard: 0845 605 6509
-local office: 01609 773751
-single payment scheme
helpline: 0845 603 7777
Website: www.rpa.gov.uk
Specific web pages: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/capreform/index/htm
information on the Single Farm Payment
Publications: ‘Single
Payment Scheme: Information for farmers and growers’
‘Single
Payment Scheme: Cross compliance handbook for
Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs – Rural Development Service
Address (
Lawnswood
LS16 5QT
Telephone:
-main switchboard: 0113 2303750
-Environmental Stewardship
helpline: 0845 6024096
Website: www.defra.gov.uk/rds
Specific web pages: www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default/htm
Information on Environmental Stewardship
Publications: ‘Entry Level
Stewardship Handbook’
‘Higher Level Stewardship
Handbook’
‘Higher
Level Stewardship: Farm Environment Plan: Guidance handbook’
Countryside Agency
Address (
Sovereign Street
LS1 4BS
Telephone:
-Switchboard: 01242 533222
-
Website: www.countryside.gov.uk
Game Conservancy Trust
Address: Fordingbridge
Hampshire
SP6 1EF
Telephone: 01425 652381
Website: www.gct.org.uk
U.K Biodiversity Action Plan
Website: www.ukbap.org.uk
The website provides links
to local action plans and species and habitat action plans such as the Upland
Heathland Habitat Action Plan. The plans state specific objectives, targets and
actions for each area, habitat or species.
Address: Yorebridge
House Colvend
Leyburn Grassington
DL8
3EE BD23 5LB
Telephone: 0870
1666333
Website: www.yorkshiredales.org.uk
Address: The
Old Vicarage
Bondgate
Helmsley
YO62
5BP
Telephone: 01439
770657
Website: www.moors.uk.net