Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which apply to England (including the Isles of Scilly), amend the Countryside Stewardship Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/1327) (“the principal Regulations”), which make provision supplementing Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2078/92 (OJ No. L215, 30.7.92, p.85), as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2772/95 (OJ No. L 288, 1.12.95, p.35) which was in turn rectified by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1962/96 (OJ No. L259, 12.10.96 p.7) on agricultural methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside.
The principal Regulations provide for payments of grant to be made by the Minister to any person who enters into a stewardship agreement with the Minister requiring the recipient of the grant to carry out on land in which he has an interest an activity which is conducive to the conservation or enhancement of the countryside or the promotion of its enjoyment by the public.
These Regulations–
introduce a number of new management and capital activities in respect of which payments may be made;
specify the maximum payments in respect of such activities;
modify some of the maximum payments in respect of existing management activities; and
add a number of definitions.
No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations.