Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS)
- Introduction and latest news
- What is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme?
- Are there any Countryside Stewardship Agreements in my area?
- Countryside Stewardship Monitoring Programme
Introduction and latest news
With the introduction of the new agri-environment scheme, Environmental Stewardship, the Countryside Stewardship Scheme is now closed to new applicants. However, existing agreements will continue until their expiry date.
A key part of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), a total of £500 million has been allocated to the scheme over the period 2000 to 2006. Since 2000, all ERDP targets for the scheme have been met, including the introduction of an additional 525,000 hectares of land to the scheme in advance of the target date of 2007. With nearly 17,000 agreement holders, over 44,500 miles of grass margins have been established, over 17,500 miles of hedgerows and over 1,300 miles of dry-stone walls restored, and previously declining numbers in farmland bird species have increased.
On 3 March 2005, Defra launched the new scheme, which will continue and build on the recognised successes already achieved by Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) Schemes.
- Find out more about Environmental Stewardship
- 2005 and beyond - information for existing CSS and ESAs agreement holders
- Agri-environment schemes and the Single Payement Scheme - information for existing CSS and ESAs agreement holders
- CSS/ESA Report on Performance 2003/2004 & 2004/2005
![[Click to download Adobe Acrobat Reader]](/graphics/buttons/pdf.gif)
(1,037Kb) - CSS Scheme Uptake - Information on uptake levels for CS.
- Stewardship News - The current and previous copies of the 6-monthly newsletter.
- Agri-Environment Schemes within SSSIs - 2003/4 data by Joint Character Area - Produced jointly by the Rural Development Service and English Nature, this reports on the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that receive funding through Defra agri-environment schemes.
- Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Schemes Annual Report 2002-3 - This is the first annual report for the two flagship schemes in England – CS and ESAs – and covers the period 2002 to 2003.
- Agri-environment Matters - the newsletter for all Agri-environment agreement holders in England
What is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme?
Countryside Stewardship was introduced as a pilot scheme in England in 1991 by the then Countryside Commission and operates outside the Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Payments are made to farmers and other land managers to enhance and conserve English landscapes, their wildlife and history and to help people to enjoy them. A booklet describing the aims of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme [1MB] is available in PDF format.
- Download a flyer leaflet on the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. [59KB]
Until the launch of Environmental Stewardship, Countryside Stewardship was the Government’s main scheme for the wider countryside, aiming, through the payment of grants, to improve the natural beauty and diversity of the countryside, enhance, restore and re-create targeted landscapes, their wildlife habitats and historical features, and to improve opportunities for public access.
Farmers and land managers entered 10-year agreements to manage land in an environmentally beneficial way in return for annual payments. Grants are also available towards capital works such as hedge laying and planting, and repairing dry-stone walls.
Payment depends on how much and what type of work is entered into the scheme – each item of work attracts a set payment. Land management payments are made annually, and capital payments on completion of work.
Are there any Countryside Stewardship Scheme agreements in my area?
Entering your postcode below will launch an interactive map showing the Countryside Stewardship Scheme agreements in your area.
This is a link to MAGIC, the Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside. MAGIC is a one-stop shop for rural and countryside information from Defra's partner organisations, bringing together definitive rural designation boundaries and information about rural land-based schemes in one place for the first time.
How do we measure the success of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme?
The CSS Monitoring Programme was undertaken by a consortium of ADAS, CEH and CCRU between 1997 and 2000. This programme involved two modules, as described below. An overview report addressing the whole programme has been produced.
- Overview Report (1.79 Mb / 189 pages)
Module 1
Module 1 involved the in-depth appraisal of the potential of new CSS management agreements to deliver against scheme objectives. A sample of almost 500 agreements was monitored, stratified to allow separate assessments of each CSS landscape type. Additionally the sample was stratified to allow appraisal of three further aspects of CSS; special projects, the scoring system and management plans.
- Methodology Report (104 Kb / 36 pages) - Note that the appendices to the methodology are not yet available.
Module 2 - The Ecological Characterisation of Land Under Agreement
Module 2 was a separate study, under which the overall environmental 'quality' of land under CSS agreement was evaluated through botanical surveys on a representative sample of agreements. A further objective was to quantify the extent of BAP habitats under agreement. The methodology was devised so as to allow comparative analysis alongside the findings of Countryside Survey 2000.
- Module 2 Report (476 kB / 46 pages) - Note that the appendices to the module 2 report are not yet available.
Page last modified:
10 May, 2006
Page published: 10 December, 2002