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Farming in England

Trees and hedgerows in a mixed farming landscape, Yorkshire

With nine million hectares of farmland, the English countryside reflects a long history and great diversity of farming systems.

However, individual farms tend to be dominated by one particular farming system. In eastern areas, farms are characterised by large, open fields growing cereals or vegetables, while in the west there are smaller, enclosed grassland fields, often cut for silage or grazed by cattle or sheep.

Upland agriculture is mostly focused on sheep, with some cattle production. Mixed farms of both arable and grass offer the best range of habitat for wildlife, but have become less common in most parts of the English countryside. 

The RSPB believes that future support for farmers should be linked to environmental outputs

Recent reforms in agriculture policy will have a far-reaching impact on farming and the environment. The RSPB believes that future support for farmers should be linked to environmental outputs.

In England, we worked with the Government and other organisations to develop Environmental Stewardship, the English agri-environment scheme.

Entry Level Stewardship pays farmers for basic activities such as looking after hedgerows and ditches, leaving stubble fields through the winter, or creating food for seed-eating birds.

Higher Level Stewardship pays for more ambitious habitat creation for scarce species, such as nesting plots for lapwings or weedy crops for grey partridges to feed in, and is targeted at special areas or species of particular importance.

The RSPB in England is working for: 

  • a major shift in farm support to reward the delivery of public goods 
  • sufficient funding to enable a high uptake of Environmental Stewardship by farmers 
  • effective targeting and use of Environmental Stewardship options to ensure all the needs of the key birds and habitats are met 
  • a system of uplands support that enables farmers to deliver a range of environmental benefits
  • the use of cross-compliance and better regulation to reduce damaging impacts of farming
  • better understanding of how changes in farm practices affect the environment 
  • advice to help farmers include the environment in their business plans.

Last modified: 05 February 2007

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