Natural England ‘Payment by Results’ pilot shows “we can turn every farmer in the country into a worker for conservation”

The first report on Natural England’s “Payment by Results” pilot has shown how giving farmers the freedom to manage their land for environmental good is boosting local wildlife and motivating them to develop nature-friendly practices. In a departure from the current national agri-environment schemes – which pay a flat rate for actions taken rather than results achieved – the 34 farmers taking part in the Payment by Results pilot have had the freedom to choose how they manage their land to enhance the environment.

The project was led by Natural England and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and shows a 43% increased score for number and diversity of seed bearing plants compared to nearby control sites – which shows the potential for this initiative to work more widely if incorporated into a post-Brexit agricultural policy. Participating farmers have also reported they felt more motivated to manage their land in a way that enhances the environment.

Dr Alastair Leake, Director of Policy at GWCT, is enthused by the results, noting “this report shows what we already know but what many people forget. Farmers live in the countryside and delight in the beauty of nature which surrounds them, but they also have to make a living. Given the right encouragement of course they choose to surround themselves and their workplace with the wonders of nature – something we all then benefit from. Our “Working Conservationists” case studies highlight just a few of those already do this. As this report shows, with the right scheme we can turn every farmer in the country into a worker for conservation.”  

The pilot began in 2016 across two areas in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire and in Norfolk and Suffolk in the east of England, with each area given targeted environmental objectives and farmers supplied with advice and training sessions. Natural England Chair Tony Juniper notes that “Farmers must be front and centre in efforts to restore the natural environment and these results reveal huge potential for the future. Meeting farmers in Wensleydale, I have been struck by the resourcefulness and passion this pilot has inspired to deliver for nature on working farms.”