In 2016, with funding from the European Union, Natural England (NE) in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) started an innovative 3 year pilot in two distinct areas of the country – Norfolk/Suffolk and the Yorkshire Dales. The project has focused on the development of a payment by results agri-environment scheme with farmers from the two areas.
The project is now reaching completion and two conferences have been held to share the results of the work so far. Speakers included NE, YDNPA, Participating farmers, Defra, European Forum for Nature Conservation and Pastoralism, National Trust, GWCT, Institute for European Environmental Policy and The Wildlife Farming Company.
Further details of the pilot study can be seen on Gov.UK at Results-Based Agri-environment Payment Scheme (RBAPS) pilot study in England