Rural Payments Agency
About Countryside Stewardship
Countryside Stewardship (CS) provides financial incentives for farmers, foresters and land managers to look after and improve the environment.
CS protects and enhances the natural environment by:
- increasing biodiversity
- improving habitat
- expanding woodland areas
- improving water quality
- improving air quality
- improving natural flood management
CS supports Defras 25 Year Environment Plan for our country to be the healthiest, most beautiful place in the world to live, work and bring up a family. It also supports Defras strategic objective of a cleaner, healthier environment, benefitting people and the economy.
Countryside Stewardship grants for 2023
CS is made up of 8 grants (when they are all open). The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) manages CS agreements.
You can transfer land parcels and BPS entitlements for 2023 until 15 May 2023, using the Rural Payments service.
You can also add land by email.
Search the CS grant finder for a description and essential requirements for each capital item or revenue option. The following upland and lowland payment rates have increased: GS5, SW10, WD4, WD11, WD12.
Capital Grants
The Capital Grants scheme is part of Mid Tier. It provides 3-year agreements offering capital items to achieve specific environmental benefits in 4 groups:
- boundaries, trees and orchards
- water quality
- air quality
- natural flood management
Applications for a Capital Grant 2023 close at 11:59 on 31 December 2023 and reopen on 3 January 2024.
Higher Tier Capital Grants
Some capital grants are part of Higher Tier. These grants provide 3-year agreements offering capital items to achieve additional environmental benefits alongside existing Higher Tier agreements.
Applications for a Higher Tier Capital Grant 2023 close at 11:59 on 31 December 2023 and reopen on 3 January 2024.
Protection and Infrastructure grants
Protection and Infrastructure grants are for capital items that support improving the management of woodland and to help manage the impact of beaver behaviours.
Applications for a Protection and Infrastructure grant close at 11:59 on 31 December 2023 and reopen on 3 January 2024.
Woodland Management Plan (WMP) grants
A WMP grant is a capital grant for a one-off payment to create a 10-year woodland management plan. It must be fully compliant with the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS).
Applications for a WMP grant close at 11:59 on 31 December 2023 and reopen on 3 January 2024.
Woodland Tree Health (WTH) grants
A WTH grant helps to restock or improve woodland after tree health problems.
Applications for a WTH grant close at 11:59 on 31 December 2023 and reopen on 3 January 2024.
Implementation Plan (PA1) and Feasibility Study (PA2) grants
Implementation Plan and Feasibility Study grants provide funding for more complex agreements and projects. You must speak to a Natural England advisor before applying for one of these grants.
Applications for an Implementation Plan grant (PA1) or Feasibility Study grant (PA2) close at 11:59 on 31 December 2023 and reopen on 3 January 2024.
Higher Tier
Higher Tier grants are for multi-year management options and capital items for the most environmentally important sites, including commons and woodlands. These are usually in places that need complex management, such as creating or restoring habitats, and improving woodland.
Applications for Higher Tier are now closed.
For information about agreements starting in January 2024 read the Higher Tier grants 2023: Countryside Stewardship guidance.
Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers
The aim of Mid Tier is to protect and enhance the natural environment through multi-year management grants and capital grants to improve:
- diversity of wildlife
- water quality
- air quality
- natural flood management
Wildlife Offers are part of Mid Tier and provide a simpler set of options to help improve wildlife in 4 different farming types.
Applications for Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers are now closed.
For information about agreements starting in January 2024 read the Mid Tier grants and Wildlife Offers 2023: Countryside Stewardship guidance.
Facilitation Fund
The Facilitation Fund supports individuals who act as facilitators to bring together groups of farmers, foresters and other land managers to improve environmental outcomes in their local area.
You can apply for the 2024 round of Facilitation Funding now. Applications are open until 15 January 2024.
Land use codes 2023
See the land use codes you should use in your CS application.
Capital and revenue payment rates from January 2023
Defra has reviewed and updated CS payment rates based on current costs. See the rate changes for:
Existing agreement holders guidance
Existing CS agreement holders