Focus on new green schemes

Mar 11 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

FARMERS in the Weardale area can get advice on looking after wildlife habitats while still making a profit.

As existing ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) and CSS (Countryside Stewardship Scheme) agreements come to an end – and almost 80% of the 126 agreements in the North East run out in 2012 – they need to consider whether they should transfer to one of the newer Environmental Stewardship schemes: Entry Level Scheme (ELS), Organic Entry Level Scheme (OELS) and Higher Level Scheme (HLS).

Natural England is inviting farmers to find out more about the grant schemes available to help them preserve and enhance the environment and support its wildlife and bird species. On hand to help them will be several Natural England experts, as well as a representative of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, who will explain how the newer Environmental Stewardship schemes can encourage and safeguard bird life.

Weardale farmer Joy Henderson will talk about her own experiences of transferring from a CSS agreement covering part of her farm to a new combined OELS/HLS agreement. The day will conclude with a short site visit to Joy’s Carrs Farm, near Wolsingham, to look at work already being carried out under the new OELS/HLS agreement and various other initiatives.

Joy Henderson said: “Environmental Stewardship pays us to continue to farm as the farm has always been run. We make late hay with small yields rather than silage which doesn’t allow the flowers to set seed. We are paid to repair the walls, which we would rather keep repaired in any case, and to refrain from cutting the hedges too often. This scheme allows us to keep the farm as wonderful as my grandad kept it and to encourage other people to come and look at the wealth of flora and fauna and perhaps study them too.”

The event takes place at St Anne’s Centre in Wolsingham, County Durham, on March 20, at 10.30am.

To find out more or to book a place on the day farmers are urged to contact their local Natural England office, in Newcastle, on (0191) 229-5500.