Hobbs Parker - ś16m in Countryside Stewardship Scheme still up for grabs...

ś16m in Countryside Stewardship Scheme still up for grabs...

...say English Nature and RICS

Britain's farmers are being urged to apply for ś16 million of so far unallocated funds under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme which targets the conservation of some key English landscapes, features and habitats.
Announcing a five point plan for a successful stewardship bid, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and English Nature say that unless the money under the current year's budget is allocated, it could be lost next year.

The five point plan say farmers should:

Go back to their files and revisit previously rejected Stewardship Applications
Consider applying to extend or expand current schemes
Seek advice from conservation organisations or a chartered surveyor to identify the local priorities for stewardship schemes
Identify opportunities for preparing large scale applications for next year (2001) when MAFF will be making a further ś15 million pounds available
Submit this year's applications well in advance of the 31st of May deadline.

Head of English Natures' chairman, Baroness Young of Old Scone said:

"English Nature urges farmers to seek professional advice so that they can submit really good Countryside Stewardship applications. Chartered surveyors should encourage their clients to take positive action. Both biodiversity and rural businesses can benefit from this exciting opportunity.
Over recent months we have seen MAFF increasingly willing to support the popular Stewardship Schemes with extra resources as part of the Government's commitment to sustainable agriculture."

President of the RICS Rural Practice division, Alastair Martin, said:

"The deadline for submitting an application for this year is tight and leaves little time to draw up a fresh submission. Chartered surveyors should therefore advise their clients to take a second look at earlier applications with a view to either extending or revising the proposal.
MAFF's 'New Direction for Agriculture' has signalled a new emphasis on the positive environmental management of our rural areas. This new emphasis means that a revisited application, in tune with local priorities, will be looked at with fresh eyes by the Ministry"