Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme helping to:Improve water quality and reduce soil erosion by encouraging management which can help to meet these aims;Improve conditions for farmland wildlife including birds, mammals, butterflies and bees;Maintain and enhance landscape character by helping to maintain important features such as traditional field boundaries;Protect the historic environment including archaeological features and artefacts.The scheme, which replaces the older Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Area schemes, is composed of two levels: the Entry Level Stewardship (ELS), Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) for Organic farms, Upland Entry Level Stewardship (UELS) comprising the lower levels; and the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) for the upper level.Sub-outcome 1.4

The aim of the SFI scheme is to provide funding for farmers to make environmental improvements through activities such as improving wildlife habitats, maintaining and improving soils and encouraging the sustainable management of woodland. It will pay farmTo assess scheme design, approaches and the operability of scheme administration, guidance and advisory support, systems and processesTo learn, innovate and improve prior to full rollout in 2024To set the direction of travel for environmental land management schemesTo build confidence in delivery and amongst stakeholdersdrive a positive user experienceObjectivesto examine how the schemes, and the way that they are designed and administered, interact, operate at scale and in the real worldto provide pilot participants with a positive user experience to help build confidence in the new schemes to learn and improve.The aims and objectives are at the heart of the pilot Learning Strategy, at Appendix 31, which sets out exactly what and how learning throughout the scheme pilots will take place.The primary mechanism for co-design however will be piloting. As well as continuation of our test and trials programme which will continue to inform our scheme development, we plan to start the pilot of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in 2021, expanding in the following year. Piloting for our Local Nature Recovery scheme will follow from 2022. For Landscape Recovery we plan to progress by launching 10 long-term projects between 2022 and 2024. While these are less like pilots in nature due to their longer term commitment, we will use those 10 projects as a test bed to learn about and adapt our approach to commissioning large-scale land use change projects. Piloting will provide opportunity for up to 5,500 farmers and land managers to help us learn and co-design the full schemes.Hence from 22 we will begin the full roll-out of the SFI and the annual health and welfare review vets visits, offering early elements which will expand and extend through the transition period enabling widespread uptake of environmental, climate change and business sustainability improvements. It will also support resilience in the farming sector by creating a route for most farmers to generate income from delivery of environmental services as direct payments are phased out. This live scheme will build on what has already be delivered through the SFI pilot and we will continue to iterate and learn.Sub-outcome 1.4

This measure covers farm and business development grants made under Countryside Productivity and ESIF Growth Programme. Grants are made in two instalments 80% of the total paid following confirmation of a successful bid and remainder paid during final year of implementing the business plan. Payment is subject to correct implementation of the business plan. This measure supports development and creation of rural micro / small businesses and farm diversification activity where the investments benefit the wider rural economy. RPA administers for measures in England.

This measure is the primary Agri-environment-climate funding for England in delivering the Rural Development programme environmental land management priorities and builds on the agri-environment Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship schemes offered under the previous RD programme. The measure funds activities intended to deliver environmental land management priorities contributing to Englands Biodiversity 2020 goals and legal obligations under the Habitats, Birds and Water Framework Directives and soil commitments made in the Natural Environment White Paper and increase resilience of wildlife, habitats and ecosystems to climate change. Funding is paid according to the payment rate for each option included in the individual agreement, and the area/length/number of the commitment selected and is based on income foregone and additional costs. Agreements can be 5 year multi annual commitments with the option of annual extensions for a further two years. 10 year commitments or longer will be offered in cases where an exception is clearly justified. RPA administers for measures in England.

This measure is the primary Agri-environment-climate funding for England in delivering the Rural Development programme environmental land management priorities and builds on the agri-environment Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship schemes offered under the previous RD programme.The measure funds activities intended to deliver environmental land management priorities contributing to England’s Biodiversity 2020 goals and legal obligations under the Habitats, Birds and Water Framework Directives and soil commitments made in the Natural Environment White Paper and increase resilience of wildlife, habitats and ecosystems to climate change.Funding is paid according to the payment rate for each option included in the individual agreement, and the area/length/number of the commitment selected and is based on income foregone and additional costs. Agreements can be 5 year multi annual commitments with the option of annual extensions for a further two years. 10 year commitments or longer will be offered in cases where an exception is clearly justified.RPA administers for measures in England.

This measure covers Agri-environment-organic farming support.Payments are based on income foregone and, where relevant, additional costs resulting from converting to an organic farming system. There are 5 different conversion payments available for different farming systems: Rotational Land; Improved Permanent Pasture; Unimproved Permanent Pasture; Horticulture; and Top Fruit.This measure aims to fund organic conversion and maintenance by active farmers and builds on existing conversion and maintenance support under the previous RD programme Environmental Stewardship (Organic Higher Level and Entry Level Stewardship) elements.Activities funded under this measure support farmers wishing to convert to and maintain organic farming systems for environmental benefits. Investments contribute to meeting Englands Biodiversity 2020 goals and legal obligations under the Habitats and Species and Water Framework Directives. Support also aims to deliver the main objectives on biodiversity and the water environment (including flood management).RPA administers for measures in England.