Countryside Stewardship Scheme and riding

[SEL]

I've been in touch with 2 places that used to do park & ride to ask if they're still doing it. One just said "no" but the other said they can't because the farm is now in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

Before I moan at my MP for stupid policies is that correct? Or are they just giving me an excuse because they don't want riders on the land

Frustrating to lose yet more off road access.

 

[Steerpike]

No that is correct, on my BIL farm I only used to be able to ride on some margins as others were in stewardship schemes

 

[poiuytrewq]

Same. It’s likely true!

 

[cauda equina]

So much for 'Public money for public good'

And yes I know biodiversity is a good thing but there used to be a scheme where riding/walking was permitted as well, it wasn't purely a conservation thing

 

[poiuytrewq]

I find lots of these country rules a bit odd.

 

[SEL]

So much for 'Public money for public good'

And yes I know biodiversity is a good thing but there used to be a scheme where riding/walking was permitted as well, it wasn't purely a conservation thing

That's what irritated me.

The park and ride wasn't a farm ride either, but it was possible to use some of their field margins to link bridleways. I'll have to look on the map but I suspect there's more road work now and that's without the struggle of finding somewhere safe to park up the lorry and load / unload.

I find lots of these country rules a bit odd.

That's because they come from Westminster without a lot of actual "country" input......

 

[teapot]

I'd imagine it's to do what they're using the field margin for, ie have to left 100% alone, can't make additional money from them.

@SEL the person to ask if you're on twitter is Janet Hughes. She won't be able to comment at the moment due to the pre-election period, but afterwards should be able to. She's very engaged online, and her team will be the one who produce a response to the letter you send your MP which will be (almost automatically) forwarded on to Defra to answer anyway. Also, if you write now, there's a chance it won't be answered at all, wait until post election if you can

 

[cauda equina]

It used to be that Countryside Stewardship schemes run by Defra could include permissive access too

I'd hoped that the much-trumpeted replacement subsidies after Brexit would carry on with something similar

 

[YourValentine]

As others have said it will depend on the CS option chosen. Access and ability to ride in them may also be seasonal. It's peak ground nesting bird season at the moment so many options will have a no disturbance period now (including grazing), but come late Aug- Sept it may be possible to ride on some. However will be up to the farmer and your relationship with them as to if they are happy to allow seasonal access. Probably not as it will need policing and there are always the few idiots who ruin things for everyone.

Public access was meant to be an option in SFI but given they were still updating and working on some of the basic SFI options till last week, it's unfortunately slipped down the agenda. Hopefully under a new gov it will get picked up and lobbied for again. There are groups who have been pushing for it, but it's not been a priority for Defra.

 

[canteron]

I also think the old Countryside Stewardship scheme used to include insurance, I don’t think the new one does?

 

[SEL]

I'd imagine it's to do what they're using the field margin for, ie have to left 100% alone, can't make additional money from them.

@SEL the person to ask if you're on twitter is Janet Hughes. She won't be able to comment at the moment due to the pre-election period, but afterwards should be able to. She's very engaged online, and her team will be the one who produce a response to the letter you send your MP which will be (almost automatically) forwarded on to Defra to answer anyway. Also, if you write now, there's a chance it won't be answered at all, wait until post election if you can

Thank you. I had already thought about waiting until after the election before having a moan / constructive feedback

What's her role?

 

[teapot]

Thank you. I had already thought about waiting until after the election before having a moan / constructive feedback

What's her role?

She's director of farming reforms at Defra