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Entry Level Stewardship Handbook

The online version of this handbook is provided for reference purposes. When you join Entry Level Stewardship, the handbook will form part of your legal agreement with Defra. You should either download the latest printed version of the handbook from the links below, or request a paper copy or CD Rom from your local RDS office.

You can apply for Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) via the internet or by post. To find out how to apply via the internet see section 1.3.2.

If you want to apply by post and you have not received a pre-filled application form and set of application maps, you will need to follow these steps:

  1. Read sections 1 and 4 of this handbook to check that you and your land are eligible for ELS;
  2. Check that all the land you wish to enter into the scheme is on the Rural Land Register (RLR). See section 1.2.1 for guidance about the RLR;
  3. Make sure you have a 'vendor number'. See section 1.2.2 for guidance about vendor numbers;
  4. Telephone your Rural Development Service (RDS) office (RDS phone numbers are listed at appendix 6 of this handbook). You will need to quote or confirm the following:
    1. Your name and correspondence address
    2. Your vendor number
    3. The County, Parish, Holding (CPH) number/s covering the eligible RLR land parcels you are entering into ELS (if you do not have a CPH number you will be provided with one when you register your land on the RLR)

    You may also need to confirm one or both of the following:

    • Individual RLR field parcel number/s for any ineligible land registered under your CPH number/s, so that these parcels can be omitted from your application
    • Individual RLR field parcel number/s for any additional eligible parcels that are not registered under your CPH number/s.
  5. You may also request the following forms:
    • Common land supplementary application form (ERDP/ES/COM 1) (see section 1.2.5)
    • Agent authorisation form (ERDP/AUTH 1) (see section 1.3.9)
    • Supplementary land ownership and control form (ERDP/ES/LOC1) (see section 1.2.3)
  6. RDS will then send you the pre-filled application form and application maps that you need to prepare your postal application. See section 2 of this handbook for a step by step summary and detailed instructions for completing your postal application.
Entry Level Stewardship Handbook
Section Title
1 Introduction and general information
2 How to complete your postal application
3 List of options, management requirements and points allocations
4 What should I do if I have another scheme or obligation on my land?
5 Additional requirements that you must agree to
6 Changes to your agreement
7 Breaches and appeals
Appendix 1 Guidance publications for management plans
Appendix 2 Guidance for calculating nitrogen content of manures
Appendix 3 Worksheet to calculate area of buffer strip options
Appendix 4 Standards of Good Farming Practice
Appendix 5 Penalties which can apply to breaches of your agreement
Appendix 6 RDS contact details and list of ERDP schemes

Alternatively, download the Entry Level Stewardship handbook in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format[Click to download Adobe Acrobat Reader][1.2MB]

Page last modified: 19 May, 2005
Page published: 3 March, 2005

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs