With deadlines looming for opportunities available under DEFRA’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme 2021, the Rural team at National Chartered Surveyors, Bruton Knowles, is advising farmers and land managers to take advantage of the improved Wildlife Offers this year. 

According to Bruton Knowles, which is assisting with applications, many farmers and land managers remain unaware about the available Wildlife Offers as the deadline of 30th July 2021 approaches.  

Wildlife Offers are simplified Countryside Stewardship agreements which are designed to preserve the natural environment and protect wildlife.  

There are four different Wildlife Offers agreement types:  

• Arable Offer
• Lowland Grazing Offer
• Mixed farming Offer
• Upland Offer 

Each type of agreement contains options to suit that type of farming system – for example, a lowland grazing offer only contains options suitable for grassland. The benefits for wildlife will be sources of nectar and pollen for insect pollinators, winter food for seed-eating birds and improved habitats, especially for farmland birds and pollinators.  

Bruton Knowles is encouraging farmers to take advantage of the current schemes and offering support to complete applications. The firm has a long history of working with the Rural sector and last year acquired rural surveying practice John Amos & Co as part of a wider company restructure and expansion plan to further develop the Rural Team’s offer 

John Amos & Co work closely with Ben Compton Partner and Head of Rural at Bruton Knowles and his team.  

Ben comments: “The four Wildlife Offers are a unique opportunity with the added advantage that unlike other similar schemes, they are non-competitive. However, we are concerned that farmers and land managers are either unaware of the available funding or are being put off from applying by previous schemes’ complicated application processes.   

“Bruton Knowles are experts in managing applications for farmers and land managers, having completed so many over the years, and as such we are providing information on how to effectively navigate the changes to the latest Countryside Stewardship schemes. Our rural experts, including John Amos & Co, are available to support farmers and landowners in completing applications, to help those who simply don’t have the time, struggle with access to broadband or a computer, or who would like more in-depth, tailored support.” 

Bruton Knowles top tips for completing an application for a Wildlife Offer: 

1. Consider carefully the areas of the farm which aren’t currently being used productively. Think about how these could be maximised with regards to protecting wildlife or the environment. This may be for example, field corners, banks or wet areas unable to be cultivated.  
2. Keep it simple – you don’t need to over complicate your ideas as this will make day to day management a challenge e.g. having different types of margins with different closed periods in the same field. 
3. Unlike previous environmental stewardship schemes you do not need to put your whole farm in an agreement. You can pick and choose fields to put in and are only bound on those that form the ‘agreement land’ – so consider your options carefully. 
4. Beyond the minimum requirements of each offer, any additional options are paid for on a £/ha basis. Therefore as long as the minimum requirements are met, applications can include as many options as you like.
5. Successful applications will have a 1st January 2022 start date and run until 31st December 2026.  These offers are a five-year scheme so maybe a secure, known income stream to help weather changes in Agricultural policy in the coming years.   
6. Typically, a Wildlife offer has options on 5 per cent of the holding – is all your holding productive land?   
7. Capital grants are not available under Wildlife Offers. However new for 2021, you can submit a separate application under the Capital grant scheme which will give you access to capital works. 
8. Ensure you are signed up to the Rural Payments Service and have an SBI number. You can register online at Gov.UK Verify or call the Rural Payments Helpline on 03000 200 301.  

Bruton Knowles is an independently-owned chartered surveyor firm with 10 locations across the UK. The team is highly knowledgeable in sale and purchase, valuation, leasing and strategy, providing specialist insightful advice across commercial property, infrastructure, utilities, public sector and social housing sectors, helping clients to achieve more from land and property. Contact us for more information about how we can support your applications.