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Key facts from ERDP

England Rural Development Programme logoOver the seven years of the Programme to December 2006:

  • Nearly 3.7 million hectares of land were brought under management agreements within Environmental Stewardship
  • Over 377,000 hectares of land were retained under management agreements within the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme
  • Over 322,000 hectares of land were retained under management agreements within the Countryside Stewardship Scheme
  • Over 137,000 hectares of land were approved for conversion to organic production methods under the Organic Farming Scheme, including conversion and maintenance agreements
  • 4,500 hectares of energy crops have been planted under the Energy Crops Scheme with a further 8,600 approved during 2006 for planting in 2007 and 2008.
  • Over 3,000 Rural Enterprise Scheme projects were approved, creating or safeguarding over 14,500 jobs, supporting over 1,200 diversification projects, funding for nearly 550 village initiatives and supporting over 3,500 new tourism enterprises
  • Over 156,000 training days were supported through the Vocational Training Scheme leading to the achievement of over 17,000 qualifications
  • More than 380 new products were brought to market with the support of a Processing and Marketing Grant helping to create or safeguard over 8,300 jobs
  • The Woodland Grant Scheme and England Woodland Grant Scheme has resulted in almost 14,000 approved applications bringing 294,000 ha of woodland under management agreements.
 

Page last modified: 28 August, 2009
Page published: 12 January, 2009