If you're a farmer or land manager in England looking to get paid for protecting and enhancing the environment, the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) 2025 scheme is one to watch!
This isn't just about ticking boxes; CSHT rewards you for managing your land in a way that benefits wildlife, combats climate change, and preserves our natural and historic heritage. Think of it as getting paid to be a good steward of the land.
What's CSHT all about?
CSHT is a funding scheme designed to support:
- Protecting and restoring the environment: From creating wildlife habitats to managing important historical sites
- Mitigating climate change: Improving carbon storage and reducing flooding
- Managing various landscapes: Including woodland, farmland, and areas specifically dedicated to nature
The scheme revolves around "actions," which are specific land management practices. There are 99 base actions and 33 supplemental ones (you can only use supplemental actions if you use a corresponding base action). These are all tailored to achieve specific environmental outcomes. Capital items are also available, which help you work toward your intended outcomes.
What kind of actions and capital items will be available?
- Managing woodlands and agroforestry
- Creating, restoring, and managing habitats like wetlands, peatland, and grassland
- Managing waterbodies to prevent flooding
- Supporting specific animals and plants
- Protecting historic or archaeological features
- Providing public access
Timeline
CSHT will be rolled out gradually, ensuring everyone gets the support they need. Access will initially be given on an invitation-only basis. Keep an eye out for these key points:
- Pre-application advice starts in January 2025: Natural England or the Forestry Commission will invite farmers and land managers to receive tailored guidance. This could include a site visit
- Invitations are rolling out monthly: Natural England or the Forestry Commission (or both) will contact groups of agreement holders on a monthly basis
- Applications open in summer 2025: Invited applicants can submit their applications online
Who will get invited to apply for CSHT first?
Priority will be given to those who are:
- Existing CS Higher Tier agreement holders: Especially those whose agreements expire at the end of 2025. Natural England will be in touch
- Higher Level Stewardship agreement holders: If your agreement is expiring in 2024 or 2025 you may be able to extend your agreement. You will be contacted by RPA if this applies to you
- Woodland owners with approved management plans: The Forestry Commission will prioritise applicants with approved woodland management plan
- Those with existing approved plans: Such as implementation plans or agroforestry plans
What if I'm not in those priority groups?
- Contact the RPA: If you're interested in CSHT but have not been invited to apply, you can contact the RPA in the following ways:
- Email: ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk - use ‘CSHT’ in the subject header and include your SBI
- Telephone: 03000 200 301 - Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm, except bank holidays
- Post: PO Box 325, Worksop, S95 1DG
- Explore capital grants: You may be able to prepare plans with capital grants. Find out more in the RPA guidance document
- Additional advisor support: Environmental Training, Advice and Facilitation Framework will be available to those who are eligible
What can I do now?
Even before you get an invitation, there are things you can do to prepare:
- Register with the RPA: If you're not already registered, get your business and land registered
- Check your contact details: Make sure the RPA has your up-to-date email and contact information
- Check Your Land Details: Make sure your land parcels, land covers, and land uses are all up-to-date with the RPA. This will save you headaches later!
- Get a Woodland Management Plan: If you're interested in woodland management actions, get a plan approved by the Forestry Commission
- Consider Standalone Capital Grants: You can apply for capital grants to help fund an implementation plan, feasibility study, woodland management plan, agroforestry plan, moorland mapping or species management plan
Important Things to Consider:
- Management Control: You must have sufficient control over the land to complete the CSHT actions you've selected, or have written consent of the landowner
- Eligibility: Ensure your land is eligible (not already in a conflicting scheme or subject to other obligations) and the land type is right for the actions you want to undertake
- Historic & Archaeological Features: If you have historic or archaeological features, you must get a CS HEFER (Historic Environment Farm Environment Record) from Historic England
What's the difference between CSHT and SFI?
It's important to understand how CSHT fits alongside the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). While SFI offers a simpler, more streamlined approach to environmental management with its standardised actions, CSHT provides a more tailored and intensive approach, especially for complex or high-priority environmental sites. Think of CSHT as the scheme for situations where a "one-size-fits-all" approach simply won't work.
You can apply for SFI alongside CSHT for actions that don't need to be adapted to your specific land. Just be sure to carefully check the scheme guidance to avoid "double funding" – getting paid twice for the same activity on the same area of land.
In short, SFI is great for widespread, simpler environmental improvements, while CSHT is there for more targeted, site-specific, and ambitious environmental outcomes.
In a Nutshell
CSHT is a fantastic opportunity to get rewarded for the environmental work you do on your land. It's a bit to get your head around, but by planning ahead, you'll be in a great position to apply in 2025!
Find out more details by reading the RPA guidance on CSHT, and stay up-to-date with CSHT and SFI information by signing-up to our JustFarm newsletter.