Grants boost to farmers (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Grants boost to farmers

Farmers and landowners are to benefit from significant increases in environmental grants in a scheme that should see more hedges and dry stone walls restored in Wiltshire.

Agricultural environment minister Elliot Morley announced that under the Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme, higher payment rates have been introduced for capital works.

These include the restoration of drystone walls and hedges, and improving access to the countryside.

Since the CS was introduced in the early 1990s 913km of hedgerows and dry stone walls and 2,745km of grass margins have been restored or created in the region, which includes Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

The Cotswolds is one of 22 ESA that cover around 10 per cent of England's agricultural land.

The average increase for capital works will be around 60 per cent.

This means payments for hedge restoration have increased from £3 per metre to £5 per metre, while those for restoration of dry stone walls have increased to £16 per metre from £12 per metre.

Mr Morley said: "These increases represent the Government's strong commitment to sustainable agriculture.

"They also recognise our pledge to provide greater public access to the countryside, by fully recognising the significant costs incurred by those who voluntarily make their land available for enjoyment by walkers, riders and the less mobile."