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Tuesday, 14 March 2006, 17:31 GMT

First farmer joins steward scheme

A Gloucestershire farmer is the first to have joined a new scheme to enhance and maintain his character land.

John Rymer of Willow Hill Farm, at Apperley, near Gloucester, will receive funding as part of the 10-year Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) scheme.

The programme will develop and protect the farm's flower meadows, grazing marsh, wet grasslands and saltmarsh.

Areas of Mr Rymer's farm have previously been run under Countryside Stewardship Scheme management.

"I've lived here, at Willow Hill Farm, virtually all my life, and have always been keen on conserving wildlife"
Farmer John Rymer

When that programme ran out he applied for the new Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship scheme, run by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Willow Hill Farm lies within the Severn and Avon Vale Joint Character Area (JCA).

Under the new scheme farmers can receive six-monthly capital payments from HLS to cover expenses.

On John Rymer's farm, it will mean hedges will be restored, a traditional orchard protected and further management measures put in place to provide a feeding habitat for the rare lesser horseshoe bat and other bat species.

"I've lived here, at Willow Hill Farm, virtually all my life, and have always been keen on conserving wildlife, so I am pleased that HLS will enable us to continue the good work that has been done under CSS in the last 10 years," said John Rymer.

Brian Smith, from the Stewardship said: "John's land has been key in the work to manage water levels on a large scale to encourage wetland habitats.

"The Higher Level Stewardship funding will allow this to continue."



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Defra High Level Stewardship Scheme
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