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Yorkshire Dales Drystone wall landscape, Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales National Park

Countryside Stewardship Schemes and Capital Grants

Countryside Stewardship

Countryside Stewardship will continue to be open to new applications until 2023 (for agreements starting in 2024). 2023 is the last year in which you can apply for Countryside Stewardship. After this time the new Environmental Land Management schemes should be fully available.

Countryside Stewardship has two tiers; Mid-Tier and Higher Tier. Unlike Environmental Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship is parcel based and not whole-farm. Applications are competitive and will be scored against others nationally.

Countryside Stewardship also has Capital Grants including options for managing hedgerows, walling and the Water Capital Items as well as some new Air Quality Capital Items. These can be incorporated into the Mid or Higher Tier agreements or can be a stand-alone Capital Grant.

If you are including a Water Capital Grant as part of a Mid-Tier application, you may require Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer support for your application- please contact us. Find more details on Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) here.

The most up to date information on the Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes, including how to apply and scheme manuals, can be found on Defra’s website. Key dates for BPS, Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (ES) scheme applications and claims can be seen here.

Mid & Higher Tier application windows:

  • 2022 applications for agreements starting in 2023 have now closed. This webpage will be updated when the new application dates in 2023 for agreements starting in 2024 are released by Defra.

Capital Grants

Capital grants were available again from the 8 February 2022, and as of this year are now open all year round for applications- no deadlines!

The Capital Grant options have been split into three categories – Boundaries, trees and orchards; Water quality; and Air quality. For a stand-alone 2-year Capital Grant, applicants can apply for up to £20,000 per category.

Find out more about Capital Grants here.

How we can help…

  • Free advice visits to explain the range of national and regional grants available and how to apply for them.
  • Help with all aspects of the Countryside Stewardship scheme application process and the different levels of the Scheme. There may be a charge associated with some of this work but please contact us to find out how we can help.
  • If you are interested in applying for a Water Capital Grant you will need to have your application endorsed by the Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer (CSFO) and inside the National Park Boundary we are the acting CSFOs. Please contact us.
  • We can also help people who are having difficulty with accessing any of the information.

Contact us

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