© Environment News Service (ENS) 2000
August 10, 2000

LINCOLNSHIRE, United Kingdom, August 10, 2000 (ENS) - A UK scheme that pays farmers to improve the natural beauty and diversity of their lands is so popular, the government is struggling to keep up with applications.

On Wednesday, Countryside Minister Elliot Morley was at Willoughby Farm, in Alford, Lincolnshire, the latest farm to apply to go green under the Countryside Stewardship scheme.

The scheme began with a 13 million pound budget (US$19.5 million) in 1997. That figure is expected to rise to 126 million pounds by 2006. The scheme is part of the England Rural Development Plan, a government initiative to redirect agricultural support away from payments for production towards assistance for enhancing the environment and rural development.

If accepted, the 3,000 hectare Willoughby Farm will form one of the biggest agreements under the scheme, entitling the farm owners to hundreds of thousands of pounds in payments over a 10 year period.

The money would be used to establish and maintain more than 113 kilometers (70 miles) of field margins and hedgerows, including hedge planting and conservation headlands. The arable farm wants to create 1.2 kilometers of footpath and four kilometers of bridleway for the public.

Wildlife conservation is also being addressed through the conservation and management of 40 hectares of grassland and creation of 20 hectares of new grassland with pond restoration, scrub clearance and the raising of water levels. This will provide a rich variety of wildlife habitats encouraging snipe, lapwing, curlew and redshank as well as other wetland species.

A record 3,500 farms applied for Countryside Stewardship before this year's May 31 application deadline.

"Stewardship has always been a popular and heavily oversubscribed scheme," said Morley. "In the past we have had to reject considerable numbers of worthwhile applications, simply on the grounds of not having enough money. This year, we should, however, be able to accept more than double the number of agreements in 1999."

Morley said new funding announced in February should allow for 3,000 new agreements this year compared to 1,300 in 1999. Agreements are usually offered by October.

At the end of 1999 the scheme covered 210,000 hectares of land. Payments are co-funded by the European Union and range from four pounds to 280 pounds per hectare. Error: Unable to read footer file.