Government extends stewardship scheme

14 January 1999

Government extends stewardship scheme

THE Government is making another £1 million a year available to farmers to support wildlife and protect the countryside.

Junior agriculture minister Elliot Morley will unveil an extension of the Countryside Stewardship scheme which has been heavily oversubscribed by farmers.

The money, which will be used to protect heather moorlands, is in addition to the £6.5m earmarked for new conservation agreements this year.

The additional money will also compensate producers who leave field margins uncultivated for a 10-year period.

It also allows set-aside fallow fields to provide undisturbed habitats for birds, butterflies, insects and wild flowers.

• The Daily Telegraph 14/01/99 page 12