Higher Level Stewardship marks 10,000th agreement
Higher Level Stewardship agreements have reached a landmark 10,000, in the same year that marked 25 years of agri-environment schemes.
John Walker of Tedney Farm and his brother Thomas, who farm in partnership on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border, recently joined the scheme – seeing it reach the major milestone.
The brothers hope their new 10-year HLS agreement will make a real difference for wildlife on farm.
“I hope the wild bird seed mixes and unharvested headlands we’ve included in the new HLS agreement will increase numbers of birds like skylarks on the farm,” said John.
“I’m very proud of the amount of old hedges we have already re-laid and restored. It is wonderful to see the large flocks of migrant fieldfares and redwings feeding on the hedges in the winter.”
The HLS agreement will also support priority habitats on the farm. By turning some of the riverside fields – previously cultivated in rotation for arable crops and potatoes – over to grassland for cattle, the brothers will be creating new wet grassland habitats on the farm that also suit the farm business.
HLS agreements now cover more than 977,000ha of England and represent an annual investment of more than £165m each year into the rural economy, helping farm businesses to generate economic growth and support a healthy and wildlife-rich environment.
“I’m very proud of the amount of old hedges we have already re-laid and restored. It is wonderful to see the large flocks of migrant fieldfares and redwings feeding on the hedges in the winter.”
Tedney Farm’s John Walker
Geoff Sansome, Natural England’s director of land management south, said: “In reaching this milestone for the HLS scheme it’s clear that England’s land managers play a fundamental role in caring for the natural environment and we are delighted to support the work they do.”
Farm minister David Heath said: “Over the last quarter of a century, environmental stewardship has made a real difference in helping farmers support the environment alongside the vital role they also play in running productive farm businesses.
“With two thirds of England’s farmland under environmental stewardship and 10,000 HLS agreements now in place, there can be no clearer demonstration of the commitment that farmers are making to help look after our countryside and wildlife.”
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