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environmental stewardship
Farmers in the UK have an important part to play in protecting and managing the environment. DEFRA's Entry Level Stewardship Scheme (ELS) aims to encourage a large number of farmers to deliver simple yet effective management. Farmers receive £30 per hectare per year (£8 if over 15 hectares are involved) and there are over 50 options to chose from. These include hedgerow management, stone wall maintenance, creating buffer strips, ditch and pond management, infield tree protection, management of rush pastures, stubble control, management of archaeological sites and bird and flower conservation. There is a similar scheme for organic farmers as DEFRA recognises that they are able to deliver greater environmental benefits.