Thinking About Higher Tier? Now Is the Time to Start Planning

If you've been considering woodland management, agroforestry or restoring species-rich grassland, now is the time to start planning.

On 21st July, Defra opened a new Expression of Interest (EOI) process for selected Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) agreements. It marks an important change in how farmers access Higher Tier funding, giving eligible applicants a simpler route into the scheme and allowing them to express an interest directly rather than waiting to be invited.

For many Cluster members, this is welcome news. Many of the projects already being delivered across the Cluster align closely with the ambitions of Higher Tier, making this a good opportunity to consider how future environmental management could be supported.

What has changed?

Previously, most Higher Tier agreements were only available following an invitation from Natural England or the Forestry Commission. Under the new system, farmers can now submit an Expression of Interest themselves for selected agreement types.

Initially, this includes:

• Agroforestry

• Woodland management and woodland improvement

• Single-focus agreements for species-rich grassland

• Single-focus agreements for scheduled monument management

  
  

Defra has confirmed that additional Higher Tier agreement types are expected to be introduced over time as the scheme continues to roll out.

What are single-focus agreements?

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of single-focus agreements.

Rather than developing a complex, bespoke Higher Tier agreement covering multiple habitats or objectives, these agreements concentrate on one specific environmental outcome. The intention is to make Higher Tier more straightforward to access for farmers who have a clear management objective, while still delivering significant environmental benefits.

For many farms, this could provide a simpler first step into Higher Tier before considering broader agreements in the future.

What does this mean for Cluster members?

Many Cluster members are already managing or restoring habitats that fit well within Higher Tier, whether that's species-rich grassland, woodland, agroforestry, river restoration or wider landscape-scale nature recovery.

While not every farm will be eligible for the initial agreements, the new process provides a valuable opportunity to start planning ahead.

Importantly, submitting an Expression of Interest does not commit you to entering an agreement, nor does it guarantee funding. Instead, it starts a conversation with Defra and Natural England to establish whether Higher Tier is suitable for your holding and what a future agreement could look like.

Preparing before you apply

Although the Expression of Interest is relatively straightforward, it's worth beginning preparations now.

Depending on the agreement type, you may need supporting information before progressing to a full application. For example, species-rich grassland agreements require recent soil analysis, including:

• Soil available phosphorus (Olsen P)

• Soil potassium status

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Having up-to-date land information, maps and management plans will also help the process run more smoothly.

What happens after submitting an EOI?

Submitting an Expression of Interest is only the first stage.

If your holding appears suitable, you'll be invited to progress through the Higher Tier application process, working with Natural England or the Forestry Commission to develop an agreement tailored to your land. This pre-application stage remains an important part of Higher Tier and helps ensure agreements are practical, deliverable and provide the greatest environmental benefit.

Why act now?

Defra has announced that an initial cohort of up to 1,200 single-focus agreements will be available through this new process, with further agreement types expected to follow. While there is no competitive application deadline, farmers who are considering Higher Tier may benefit from starting conversations and gathering the necessary information sooner rather than later.

Need some advice?

If you're wondering whether Higher Tier could be the right option for your holding, or how it could complement existing stewardship or Cluster projects, please get in touch.

Our catchment Sensitive Farming Advisor, Oli Newman, would be happy to discuss the opportunities and help you understand whether submitting an Expression of Interest is the right next step.

Further information and access to the online EOI can be found here: Defra EOI