Conservation grants provide funding for habitat creation, improvement and management. Funding is provided by the European Union and each country in the UK has interpreted and implemented European legislation differently. Since 1 January 2015 there are new European Union funds and new rules apply.
Countryside Stewardship is the environmental land management scheme administered by Natural England.
Countryside Stewardship helps to improve flood management, landscape character, genetic conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
In November 2017 a number of new streamlined Countryside Stewardship options were announced.
Existing (2007-2013) conservation grants under Environmental Stewardship – administered by Natural England – will continue to operate but will be closed to new applications.
The Welsh Government administers agricultural schemes. Glastir is the sustainable land management scheme, through which financial support is given to farmers and land managers.
The Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) scheme guidance is available from the Scottish Government website.
Northern Ireland Agri-environment schemes details are available from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs website.
Lowland Game Shooting Study Biodiversity on lowland farm landscapes has been in decline since before the middle of the last century, largely as a result of agricultural intensification. However, a number of demonstration projects and studies on specific habitats have shown that management for shooting has the effect of slowing
Gamekeeping Today, there are some 5,000 full-time gamekeepers employed in the UK. In addition, there are many who spend their leisure time and money, rearing game and maintaining habitats on their own small shoots. A gamekeeper can be professional or amateur but their role is the same, to look after
Woodland Trees and Shrubs The woodland trees and shrubs are the most important aspect of your land, says Charles Dutton. Whether your shoot’s a large commercial operation or a DIY shoot, what do you think is its biggest asset? Is it the fortune we pay for young birds, the wizardry
