Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier Opens in England

From 18th September 2025, eligible farmers, foresters, and land managers who have received pre-application advice and completed any necessary preparatory works are being invited to apply for the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) online.

The CSHT scheme is being introduced through a controlled rollout in 2025 and 2026, which means that access is currently by invitation only. This phased approach ensures the service runs smoothly and that applicants have the right support in place.

Since January, more than 1,500 people have already received pre-application advice from Natural England and the Forestry Commission. The first invitations targeted farmers with CSHT agreements ending in 2025, those with an approved woodland management plan, and those applying for an agri-environment agreement with an existing plan.

If you’ve completed your pre-application advice, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will email you to start your CSHT application. Invitations are being sent in phases, and you do not need to contact the RPA to check your eligibility.

A new & improved CSHT offer

CSHT supports a wide range of land types, including:

• Woodlands
• Farmed land
• Areas managed for nature
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• Commons
• Scheduled monuments

The updated CSHT scheme includes:

• 132 actions and supplements to protect and enhance the environment, including new options for watercourse management, agroforestry, woodland, and species management
• 142 capital items to support delivery of CSHT actions
• Rolling applications
• Monthly agreement start dates rather than a single annual date
• Quarterly payments for actions and supplements to help cash flow
• A simpler online application process via the Rural Payments service

CSHT agreements can last 5, 10, 15, or 20 years, depending on the actions included. Agreements may also include capital items, which must be completed within three years of the agreement start date.

Last week, Defra published updated CSHT guidance on GOV.UK, which includes the scheme’s terms and conditions and a link to the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool. This tool has been refreshed to include all CSHT actions and supplements to help plan your application.

Capital grant plans

Before applying for woodland management or agroforestry actions under CSHT, you must have a plan approved by the Forestry Commission:

• A woodland management plan for woodland actions
• An agroforestry plan for agroforestry actions

You may also need a species management plan, depending on your chosen actions. Each CSHT action outlines whether a plan or feasibility study is required as part of the pre-application process. You can check this using the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool.

Capital Grant funding is available to help prepare these plans. Full details are in the CSHT guidance.

How to apply

If you’ve been invited to apply:

1. Ensure you have an account in the Rural Payments service with the correct permissions to apply. Guidance on this is available in the CSHT guidance.
2. Select the CSHT actions and capital items your land is eligible for. These should match the advice you received during pre-application or the recommendations in your invitation email.
3. Your application will be reviewed by Natural England or the Forestry Commission. You may need to submit supporting maps, quotes, or other documents, including business viability information.
4. After review, you may be asked to make changes or your application will be approved.
5. Once approved, submit your application along with any supporting evidence to the RPA.
6. After the RPA’s checks, you will receive an agreement offer in the Rural Payments service, which must be accepted before the agreement can start.

Next steps

CSHT is part of the Government’s £11 billion plan to support sustainable farming and food production during this parliament. Funding for environmental land management schemes, including CSHT, will increase by 150% to £2 billion by 2029, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to protecting the environment and supporting farming communities as outlined in the Plan for Change.

Invitations to apply will continue on a rolling basis for those who have completed pre-application advice. Work is underway to plan the next phase, including identifying which groups will be invited. Defra will share further details as soon as possible.

Help & advice

If you would like further advice or help with the pre-application process, or with completing and submitting your application, please contact our Stewardship & Grants team on 01981 590514.