Biodiversity

Funding Sources

Various sources of funding may be available to owners of SINCs.  The main grant aid schemes are  -

DEFRA Environmental Stewardship - which compromises of two levels -

  • Entry Level Scheme (ELS)

  • Higher Level Scheme (HLS)

And the Forestry Commission grant for woodlands -

  • English Woodland Grant Scheme ( EWGS)


Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship was launched across England in the summer of 2005 as a source of funding for farmers and other land managers who deliver effective environmental management on their land.  It has sought ways to broaden coverage of agri-environment schemes and a tiered scheme structure has been developed.

Entry Level Scheme

The Entry Level Scheme takes a simplified approach to supporting the good stewardship of the countryside with the aim of encouraging the majority of farmers to deliver simple yet effective environmental management.

Farmers will be able to select environmental management options from a wide-ranging list which will help to improve farmland biodiversity; protect historic features; maintain landscape character; and reduce diffuse pollution (e.g. soil erosion and nutrient leaching).

Higher Level Scheme

The five main objectives for the higher level scheme are wildlife conservation; protection of the historic environment; maintenance and enhancement of landscape quality and character; to promote public access and understanding; and resource protection.  The two secondary objectives are flood management and genetic conservation.

The Higher Level Scheme concentrates on the more complex types of management needed to achieve these objectives, where land managers need advice and support, where agreements need to be tailored to local circumstances and where management needs to be carefully targeted.

English Woodland Grant Scheme

English Woodland Grant Scheme

The English Woodland Grant Scheme ( EWGS) is the Forestry Commission's new suite of grants to replace the Woodland Grant Scheme ( WGS).  You can now apply for Woodland Planning, Assessment, Regeneration, Management and Improvement grants.

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