THE Government this week issued its first joint annual report for the Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas Schemes.

Elliot Morley, Environment Minister, said both had made significant contributions over the past 17 years.

Countryside stewardship has more than 16,000 farmers involved in ten-year agreements, each receiving between £20 and £555 a hectare, depending on the type of land management agreed.

The scheme has played a key role in helping endangered birds such as cirl bunting, stone curlew and grey partridge. More than 1,300 miles of dry stone walls and over 17,500 miles of hedgerow have been restored and more than 44,500 miles of grass margins established. More than 500,000 hectares are under agreements.

Defra had allocated a further £500m to the scheme for between 2000 and 2006, with a target of attracting a further half million hectares.

The Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme began in 1987. There are 22 ESAs in England, covering 1.1m hectares. About 12,500 agreements cover 640,000 hectares.

Mr Morley said the schemes had served their purpose well but were expected to be replaced by an Environmental Stewardship Scheme next year.