Chris Muir, Environmental Advisor at StephensonsRural, explains the phased rollout of the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme and what farmers and landowners need to know before applying.
Rolling applications opened on 18 September for invited eligible farmers and landowners to apply for the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CS HT) scheme.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) launched the scheme with a controlled rollout during 2025 into 2026 to test the system ensuring everything runs smoothly for applicants. The scheme currently is by invitation only with eligible applicants receiving pre-application advice from Natural England and the Forestry Commission.
Those with existing Higher-Level schemes and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier schemes ending in 2025 have been the priority with further invitations due as the scheme is rolled out further.
Here at Stephensons Rural we have several clients at different stages of the application process from initial discussions to expressing interest and reviewing options suitable to the farm and landscape, through to full application.
The new CS HT offers targeted funding for specific actions to protect and enhance the environment and sites of special scientific interest (SSSi). Many farms have exhausted options through Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier or Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, leaving the 'special' parcels out of these agreements to add them into the new CS HT scheme.
The new CSHT offer includes:
- 132 actions, including new options for watercourse management, agroforestry, woodland and species management.
- 142 capital items to support delivery of CSHT actions
- Rolling applications
- Monthly agreement start dates,.
- Quarterly payments for CSHT actions and supplements
Prior to applying for woodland management or agroforestry actions under CS HT, you will need an approved plan from the Forestry Commission. This means having a woodland management plan or an agroforestry plan which may also mean a species management plan as required to. Natural England may ask for an implementation plan or feasibility study which need to be applied for well in advance of pre-application advice.
Further supporting maps and quotes maybe required as you move through the application process as required.