Introduction
This guidance explains how to apply for a Countryside Stewardship (CS) Higher Tier grant by email or post, including how to complete any maps and annexes.
Read ‘How to request a Mid Tier or Higher Tier application pack’ on GOV.UK. then request an application pack using the Rural Payments service. The pack will be emailed or posted to you and will contain the information we hold for your business in the Rural Payments service.
It’s important that all your information is up to date in the Rural Payments
If you have requested an email copy, check your junk folder if you have not received the application pack in your inbox, as the pack is emailed once.
If you cannot access the internet to request an application pack, call us on 03000 200 301 and we’ll try to help.
The deadline for The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to receive your completed application and supporting documents is midnight on 29 April 2022.
We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible and well before the deadline to allow time to resolve any queries. This will help us, the Forestry Commission, and Natural England make decisions and recommendations about your application. Read ‘Key dates’ above for more information.
To get started it’s important that you do the following in the order we’ve listed them:
Read ‘How to request a Mid Tier or Higher Tier application pack’ and use this guidance to follow 1 to 3 below;
To receive CS payments, you must be registered in the Rural Payments service. To find out how to do this, read ‘Register or sign into the Rural Payments service’ below. If you do not have access to the internet, call us on 03000 200 301 and we’ll try to help.
You must check that your personal details, business details, permission levels and digital maps are up to date, and update them if needed before requesting your pack. You may find the Countryside Stewardship mapping guidance for applicants and RLE1 guidance useful, which is on GOV.UK.
You can download an application pack, or request one to be emailed to you, using the Rural Payments service from 9 February to 31 March.
If you do not have access to the internet, you can call us on 03000 200 301 to request an application pack.
All the guidance and information you need for Countryside Stewardship (CS) is on GOV.UK:
- Countryside Stewardship (CS) Higher Tier (HT) manual
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for information about options and items available, the evidence you need for your application, and whether you need to submit it with your application read Countryside Stewardship grants on GOV.UK
- for information about other schemes read Agri-environment schemes (CS and ES) and BPS On GOV.UK
If you cannot access GOV.UK you can email or call us to request a paper copy of the manual. You can call us on 03000 200 301.
Remember, it’s your responsibility to make sure that:
- you meet the scheme rules
- all the eligible land included in your application is correct, to the best of your knowledge.