What is Countryside Stewardship?

Countryside Stewardship is an England-only scheme that pays farmers, woodland owners, foresters, and land managers to protect, restore, or improve the environment. Support is available across a range of agreement types, including revenue agreements, capital grants, and the newer Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier.

It is designed to support work such as habitat management, environmental improvement, and land management actions that contribute to nature recovery and climate resilience.

Who can apply?

Eligibility depends on the type of agreement and whether the land and applicant meet the scheme rules. In general, farmers and land managers in England may be eligible, but the exact criteria vary depending on whether you are claiming under an existing agreement, applying for capital grants, or entering the Higher Tier route.

For the Higher Tier scheme, applications are not open to everyone automatically. You must be invited to apply and receive pre-application advice before starting.

What matters most?

For many agreement holders, the key priority each year is submitting their revenue claim correctly and on time. The deadline for full payment is typically mid-May, so it’s important to plan ahead.

Make sure your land use codes are up to date and aligned with your agreement before submitting your claim.

What if you miss the deadline?

Claims submitted after the main deadline may be subject to reductions depending on how late they are submitted.

Keeping records organised throughout the year makes it much easier to submit complete and accurate claims on time.

What support is available?

Farmers may be working with existing Countryside Stewardship revenue agreements, while capital grants and Higher Tier opportunities continue to support environmental improvements.

Understanding which scheme or agreement you are part of is key to making the most of available funding.

Why field records and mapping matter

Accurate field information is essential for stewardship agreements. Land parcels, land use codes, completed actions, and supporting evidence all play a role in claims and inspections.

Keeping field-level records up to date helps with nutrient management, grazing tracking, and ensuring compliance across multiple schemes.

How Herdwatch can help

Herdwatch helps simplify pasture and field record management by keeping everything in one place. Farmers can map fields, record applications, track grazing periods, and manage field jobs from their phone.

Fertiliser management

Record fertiliser purchases and applications by field to track costs and application history.

Soil fertility

Import soil test results and view pH, phosphorus, and potassium levels to support better decisions.

Grass measurements

Track grass growth, reseeding, and pasture performance using real data.

Task management

Create field jobs, reminders, and reports to stay organised.

Farm mapping

Use satellite imagery to map fields, measure acreage, and organise land use.

All records in one place

Store all pasture and field data in one accessible location.

Stay on top of Countryside Stewardship

Countryside Stewardship remains an important source of environmental funding in England. Whether you are submitting a claim or managing agreements, good records and planning are essential.

Getting organised early will help you stay compliant, avoid reductions, and maximise your payments.