Fundamental changes to the way the government supports farmers mean that subsidies for farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy will be phased out and replaced by a new scheme – the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. The new ELM scheme will be founded on the principle of “public money for public goods” with The Agriculture Bill providing the underpinning legislative framework. Farmers will be rewarded for actions that deliver public goods such as improved air, water and soil quality, increased biodiversity, climate change mitigation, cultural benefits, and better protection of historic environments.
What Tests & Trials are happening in the Kent Downs?
The Kent Downs AONB unit is helping Defra design the new Environmental Land Management Scheme. We are running three Tests and Trials covering Viticulture, Accessibility, and Natural Flood Management and are inviting farmers and landowners to participate and help co-design them. The evidence and recommendations from these Tests and Trials will be submitted to Defra in 2021 and will help shape the way payments are made to farmers and landowners from 2024 onwards.
Farming in Protected Landscapes
This new grant programme is funded by Defra will run from 2021 to 2024 and the first application window is open from 1 July 2021 to 31 January 2022. The Kent Downs AONB Unit will be supporting Kent Downs farmers and land managers to find out more about the programme, how it works, and how to make a successful application. Find out more here
Environmental Land Management Scheme
in the Kent Downs National Landscape
The Kent Downs National Landscape team is helping Defra design the new Environmental Land Management Scheme. We are running three Tests and Trials covering Vineyards, Accessibility, and Natural Flood Management and are inviting farmers and landowners to participate and help co-design them. The evidence and recommendations from these Tests and Trials will be submitted to Defra in 2021 and will help shape the way payments are made to farmers and landowners from 2024 onwards.
What is the new Environmental Land Management scheme?
Following Brexit, subsidies for farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy will be phased out and replaced by a new scheme – the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme
The new ELM scheme will be founded on the principle of “public money for public goods” with The Agriculture Bill providing the underpinning legislative framework. Farmers will be rewarded for actions that deliver public goods such as improved air, water and soil quality, increased biodiversity, climate change mitigation, cultural benefits, and better protection of historic environments.
You can find out more in the ELM Policy Discussion Document and read about Defra’s ambitions for ‘ecosystem services’ in the Government’s 25-year Environment Plan
