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New Stewardship Rates
Feb 9, 2004
DEFRA RDS have announced new rates of payment for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Some of the changes are dramatic, and reflect recent consultation.
One of the most useful changes from our angle is that our clients with smaller farms now receive £300 to pay for our help with an application (up from £150). Also, the Upland Survey minimum payment has changed from £250 to £400.
On the land, there are many changes, the best one (in our opinion) being hedge renovation, which has increased from £3 per metre to £5 per metre.
An example of a dramatic change is that orchard tree guards have changed from £12 each to £36 each!
These changes make Stewardship MUCH more attractive to many smaller land managers, who have previously found that their own contribution towards capital works was prohibitive.
These new rates are not in the 2004 application pack (just to be confusing!). Ask us for a copy, or ask your local DEFRA-RDS office.
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