For the first time, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) will open to direct applications from farmers and land managers, helping more businesses secure funding to restore nature while producing food.
Speaking at Groundswell Festival 2026 today (2 July), Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds announced farmers and land managers will be able to apply for woodland agreements, agroforestry agreements and new single-focus agreements to restore species-rich grassland, with an initial cohort of up to 1,200 single-focus agreements available.
When CSHT launched last September, farmers and land managers could only apply if invited by Natural England or the Forestry Commission as part of a phased rollout. From later this summer, this restriction will be lifted, allowing farmers and land managers to begin the application process themselves by submitting an Expression of Interest, opening the scheme to more applicants and giving them greater control over how they apply, helping them deliver more for nature, heritage and their businesses.
The changes build on the government’s commitment to make environmental schemes more accessible and deliver the Farming Roadmap by giving farmers clearer routes into support while continuing to target funding where it can deliver the greatest environmental benefit.
It follows the reopening of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) this week, designed to be simpler, fairer, and more accessible than ever before. As expected on opening Window 1, demand was strong on the first day, with a high number of applications. The latest data shows that application volumes have begun to level off, and applications are being received at a steady pace.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said
Every thriving meadow restored, every historic landscape protected and every woodland managed more sustainably starts with farmers and land managers who care deeply.
The Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier will be simpler and easier for more applicants to access, giving more farmers and land managers the opportunity to invest in their businesses while helping to create a richer, greener countryside for future generations.
The expanded offer announced today will, for the first time, open applications to farmers and land managers without the need for an invitation, with support for restoring and managing species-rich grassland, improving woodland management, establishing agroforestry, and conserving scheduled monuments.
This will help more farmers and land managers deliver environmental improvements while continuing food production, alongside continued support for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and HLS agreement holders whose agreements expire in 2026 or early 2027.
Later this year, we will begin trialling applications on common land ahead of implementing a wider rollout.
At least £50 million will be available for new CSHT agreements this year. Natural England will continue to prioritise farmers with agreements ending or those who have already completed the preparatory work needed to apply.
