PLANS to pay hill farmers to protect the natural resources, wildlife and character of their land have been welcomed by agricultural chiefs in the region.

The environment department (Defra) today announced a £31m scheme to replace the hill farm allowance - paid in recognition of the tough conditions faced by upland farmers.

The latest scheme - known as the Upland Entry Level Stewardship (Upland ELS) - aims to conserve England's historic uplands landscapes, such as the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Recipients will be rewarded for maintaining dry stone walls and stone-faced hedge banks.

Farmers can also qualify for financial support in the points-based scheme through land management practices such as cattle grazing and not using fertilisers within six metres of rivers or streams.

Harold Brown, a hill farmer at Grinton, in Swaledale, and deputy chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said the move was a step in the right direction.

He said: "I am pleased that Hilary Benn and Defra have listened to hill farmers.

"They have taken on board the views of the various organisations, including the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the Tenant Farmers Association and moved to support upland farming."

David Hugill, an NFU member, who farms at at Swainby, North Yorkshire was a member of a steering group set up during the trial of the Upland ELS.

He said the move was "good news" for hill farmers.

There will now be a transition period from the hill farm allowance, which will continue for another year.