THE Government has launched its new Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

All farmers can earn money for a range of schemes designed to look after wildlife on their land.

Eligible projects range from looking after hedgerows, providing habitats for birds and small mammals, creating wildflower plots for insects and protecting ponds from pesticides and fertilisers to encourage wildlife, such as frogs and newts.

The Department for the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the measures would help reverse the decline in wild bird populations, cut pollution and increase wildlife on farms. Defra said they were part of the biggest changes to farming for a generation.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) said the scheme was a good example of how incentives would allow farmers and land managers to help conservation.

CLA regional director Dorothy Fairburn said: "It widens the number of farmers and landowners who can be rewarded for good practice and makes it financially viable to introduce further environmental management activities alongside the production of livestock, food and industrial crops.

"The countryside delivers major benefits in terms not only of food production, but also timber, diverse businesses, recreation, and tourism - and is clearly a major part of our national character.

"The only cloud on the horizon is whether Defra will be successful in its negotiations with the EC to have enough money in the pot to fund this scheme from 2006 onwards."

* Farmers are being asked to address a wider range of environmental issues under the new-look system of European Union subisidies.

On January 1, changes to the Common Agricultural Policy were introduced to break the link between the financial support farmers received and the amount they produced.

Now, partly in response to a growing lobby for change from environmentalists alarmed at the impact on wildlife of intensive farming, the subsidy system will take into account a farm's environmental performance.

Subsidies will be paid to farmers who meet legal requirements and keep their land in "good agricultural and environmental condition".

The Environment Agency said it would continue to visit farms as usual but, during 900 of the inspections, its officers would examine compliance with groundwater, nitrate and sewage sludge regulations.

For details, call 0845 345 1302.

Published: 15/03/2005