Entry Level Stewardship (ELS)

Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) is a 'whole farm scheme' open to all farmers and land managers. Acceptance will be guaranteed providing you can meet the scheme requirements. If you have a mix of conventionally and organically farmed land, or all your land is farmed organically, you should apply for OELS.

Key Features of ELS

• The aim is to encourage a large number of farmers across a wide area of farmland to deliver simple yet effective environmental management.
• Payment of £30 per hectare, per year across the whole farm
• There is a wide range of over 50 options to choose from (e.g. hedgerow management, stone wall maintenance, low input grassland, buffer strips, and arable options), to cover all farming types.
• Five year agreements with automatic payments sent out every six months.

Links and Documents

DEFRA Entry Level Stewardship overview

ELS handbook (online version)

ELS handbook (PDF)