Natural England
About Countryside Stewardship
Countryside Stewardship (CS) provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the environment.
CS protects and enhances the natural environment by:
- increasing biodiversity
- improving habitat
- expanding woodland areas
- improving water quality
- improving air quality
- improving natural flood management
CS supports Defras 25 Year Environment Plan for our country to be the healthiest, most beautiful place in the world to live, work and bring up a family. It also supports Defras strategic objective of a cleaner, healthier environment, benefitting people and the economy.
Grants for 2024
CS is made up of 8 grants (when they are all open). The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) manages CS agreements.
Search the CS grant finder for a description and essential requirements for each capital item or revenue option.
Capital Grants
It provides 3-year agreements offering capital items to achieve specific environmental benefits in 4 groups:
- boundaries, trees and orchards
- water quality
- air quality
- natural flood management
You can apply for a Capital Grant 2024at any time of the year from 3 January 2024.
Higher Tier Capital Grants
These grants provide 3-year agreements offering capital items to achieve additional environmental benefits alongside existing agreements.
You can apply for a Higher Tier Capital Grant 2024 at any time of the year from 3 January 2024.
Protection and Infrastructure grants
Protection and Infrastructure grants are for capital items that support improving the management of woodland and to help manage the impact of beaver behaviours.
You can apply for a Protection and Infrastructure grant at any time of the year from 3 January 2024.
Woodland Management Plan (WMP) grants
A WMP grant is a capital grant for a one-off payment to create a 10-year woodland management plan. It must be fully compliant with the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS).
You can apply for a WMP grant at any time of the year from 3 January 2024.
Woodland Tree Health (WTH) grants
A WTH grant helps to restock or improve woodland after tree health problems.
You can apply for a WTH grant at any time of the year from 3 January 2024.
Implementation Plan (PA1) and Feasibility Study (PA2) grants
Implementation Plan and Feasibility Study grants provide funding for more complex agreements and projects. You must speak to a Natural England or Historic England (PA2 only) adviser before applying for one of these grants.
You can apply for a Implementation Plan grant (PA1) or Feasibility Study grant (PA2) at any time of the year from 3 January 2024.
Higher Tier
Higher Tier grants are for multi-year management options and capital items for the most environmentally important sites, including commons and woodlands. These are usually in places that need complex management, such as creating or restoring habitats, and improving woodland.
Applications for Higher Tier are now closed.
For information about agreements starting in January 2024 read the Higher Tier grants 2023: Countryside Stewardship guidance.
Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers
The aim of Mid Tier is to protect and enhance the natural environment through multi-year management grants and capital grants to improve:
- diversity of wildlife
- water quality
- air quality
- natural flood management
Wildlife Offers are part of Mid Tier and provide a simpler set of options to help improve wildlife in 4 different farming types.
Applications for Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers are now closed.
For information about agreements starting in January 2024 read the Mid Tier grants and Wildlife Offers 2023: Countryside Stewardship guidance.
Facilitation Fund
The Facilitation Fund supports individuals who act as facilitators to bring together groups of farmers, foresters and other land managers to improve environmental outcomes in their local area.
You can apply for the 2024 round of Facilitation Funding now. Applications are open until 15 January 2024.
Land use codes 2024
See the land use codesyou should use in your application.
Revenue payment rates from January 2024
Defra has reviewed and updatedCSpayment rates based on current costs. See the rate changes for CSrevenue options.
Existing agreement holders guidance
Existing CS agreement holders should follow the relevant scheme guidance to manage their agreement effectively and meet all its requirements.
How to make a claim for payment
CS agreement holders should follow the guidance on how to make a capital or revenue claim to get paid under the terms of their CS agreement.
How HMRC treats subsidy payments
Your grant and subsidy payments are paid before tax is taken off. You may need to tell HMRC about these if you or your business pay UK tax. For more information, read HMRCs Business Income Manual BIM40451 - Specific receipts: grants and subsidies. If you have an accountant, you should also discuss this with them.
How Countryside Stewardship fits in with the Agricultural Transition
CS continues to offer Mid Tier and Higher Tier agreements starting in 2024, alongside rolling out further elements of our new scheme, the Sustainable Farm Incentive (SFI). Several SFI standards are already available, with more due to be introduced in future.
Signing up to a CS agreement now will put you in the best possible posi