AP - Farmers And Advisors Attitudes Towards The Environmental Stewardship Scheme

Attitudes of 25 farmers and 9 advisors towards the Environmental Stewardship Scheme (ESS) in North Norfolk are reported. Simplicity and ease of entering the ELS is contrasted with difficulties associated with applying for the HLS. Advisors rank environmental improvement less important than farmers, and their advice tends to reflect their specialist training. FWAG was the exception. There was support for an intermediate scheme to bridge CSS and ELS, and HLS: this would assist smaller farms and those participating in the CSS. This may increase “people additionality” – which should become a key measure of success for agri-environmental schemes (AES).

Key words: agri-environment schemes, stewardship, advisor(s), farmers, attitudes.