Funding for educational access through the Higher Level Stewardship scheme

Farmers in England are being given the chance to teach children about life down on the farm by applying for funds to install facilities for school and youth groups. Educational access capital funding through the Higher Level Stewardships scheme (HLS) is available to help provide items to improve visitor access to farms such as classrooms, washroom facilities and access furniture such as kissing gates. Successful applicants will also be able eligible for an annual base payment and revenue payments for up to 25 educational visits per year. There are currently over 1000 farmers in England supplementing their income by offering educational visits.

The rate of grant available will depend on the work being undertaken. For example access furniture has set grant rates, educational access facilities such as classrooms can receive up to 80 percent of the total cost subject to a ceiling of £50,000 for classroom facilities and £25,000 for toilets/washing facilities. CEVAS training can be paid in full. Farmers in HLS who can demonstrate the potential for their farms to host high quality educational visits for school children or care farming clients should contact their local Natural England Land Management Adviser by 30 June 2012 to apply for the funding. See www.naturalengland.org.uk