When our Countryside Stewardship Scheme ended after ten years we transferred to the Environmental Stewardship Scheme that succeded it. It's almost the same as the Higher Level Scheme and pays out a similar amount. In any case, you can't participate in ES and HLS, it has to be one or the other. The administration of ES is by Natural England.
The other day we had a note from the Eastern regional director of NE to the effect that there had been a hold-up in producing the latest version of the ES handbook and it would not be available until August. But don't worry, the note assured scheme participants, when it and the new annual forms arrive they will be easy to complete (we shall see) and they should be returned as soon as possible and in any case by the deadline of Sept 30 .
However, if we wished we could complete the old style forms to get them out of the way before August, which "is often a holiday period so may not fit in with personal arrangements".
Has he ever been on an arable farm?