Natural England - Organic Entry Level Stewardship
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Organic Entry Level Stewardship
Organic Entry Level Stewardship
Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) is open to all farmers, including those in the uplands, who manage all or part of their land organically, to deliver simple yet effective environmental management.
OELS requires a basic level of environmental management and you can choose from a wide range of options. These cover all farming types and include things such as hedgerow management, buffer strips, maintenance of traditional farm buildings and options for cultivated land. Your land must be farmed organically and registered with an approved Organic Inspection Body.
How does OELS work?
You will receive a payment for all land entered into OELS. The standard payment rate is £60 per hectare per year. There are higher payments for Uplands OELS - up to £92 per ha.
Provided you meet a points target and agree to carry out simple but effective environmental mangement on your land, you will be accepted into OELS.
Five-year agreements are available, with monthly start dates and automatic payments every six months.
If you have a mix of organic and conventional land you can apply for OELS on your organic land and ELS on the remainder as part of one, whole farm, OELS agreement.
How can I get advice and help?
There is a wide range of advice and help available to you:
To arrange a farm visit from an adviser, please call 0300 060 1695.
If you would like to attend one of our OELS events in your region, please see our Farm events page or call 0300 060 1695.
Natural England maintains a register of agents who are able to complete Environmental Stewardship applications.
How do I apply?
You can apply at any time for an OELS agreement. There are monthly start dates. The straightforward application involves completing a Farm Environment Record.
Our target is to provide an agreement within three months of receiving a valid application.
To apply for an OELS agreement please contact our North West regional office at Crewe.
What information and documents do I need to apply?
The following documents will help you with your application
Supplementary guidance for ELS and OELS
, August 2010A series of leaflets showing how to make the most of OELS options for farmland birds, farm wildlife, cleaner water and healthier soil, the historic environment and farming in the uplands.
New guidance on common land or shared grazing and Uplands ELS
Existing agreements
If you have an existing agreement that started between October 2008 and December 2009 you should refer to:
If you have an existing agreement that started before October 2008 you should refer to:
