November 30 2009
NATURAL England is set to suspend applications for Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) until late January 2010.
The suspension will take effect from December 4 and will see Natural England’s ELS Online system temporarily taken offline to be upgraded, while new application packs for ELS will not be issued.
Farmers will still be able to join ELS by returning a valid paper application to Natural England before Christmas. Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements will not be affected.
The decision to suspend applications was made so Natural England could make changes to its ELS options and also because of the timing of the Rural Land Register (RLR) mapping update which is currently ongoing.
The new RLR maps will be used as the basis of the re-worked ELS options and Natural England will need to wait until they are ready before it can proceed.
This online upgrade will ensure that all the new options being introduced into the scheme, including Uplands ELS, will be available to customers from February 1st.
The main benefits of ELS Online are:
· You can make multiple applications using ELS Online, reviewing, amending and saving the applications as you work on them.
· Quick and easy application process which can save up to 5 days getting applications processed and submitted, also saving on postage costs
· The software contains a measuring tool which can save days measuring hedgerows, buffer strips and other boundary options
· ELS points are calculated as you add features and options
· Will be able to submit Upland ELS applications too
New handbooks detailing the new options under the revamped ELS will be made available online from early December and can be viewed at www.naturalengland.org.uk/es.