The England Rural Development Programme 2000 - 2006
Over the seven years of the Programme to December 2006:
- Nearly 3.7 million hectares of land have been brought under management agreements within Environmental Stewardship
- Over 377,000 hectares of land were retained under management agreements within the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme
- Over 322,000 hectares of land were retained under management agreements within the Countryside Stewardship Scheme
- Over 137,000 hectares of land were approved for conversion to organic production methods under the Organic Farming Scheme, including conversion and maintenance agreements
- 4,500 hectares of energy crops have been planted under the Energy Crops Scheme with a further 8,600 approved during 2006 for planting in 2007 and 2008.
- Over 3,000 Rural Enterprise Scheme projects were approved, creating or safeguarding over 14,500 jobs, supporting over 1,200 diversification projects, funding for nearly 550 village initiatives and supporting over 3,500 new tourism enterprises
- Over 156,000 training days were supported through the Vocational Training Scheme leading to the achievement of over 17,000 qualifications
- More than 380 new products were brought to market with the support of a Processing and Marketing Grant helping to create or safeguard over 8,300 jobs
- The Woodland Grant Scheme and England Woodland Grant Scheme has resulted in almost 14,000 approved applications bringing 294,000 ha of woodland under management agreements.
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About the ERDP
The England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) was a programme of activities designed to contribute to the delivery of the Government's Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food by helping farmers and foresters to respond better to consumer requirements and become more competitive, diverse, flexible and environmentally responsible. It also provided help to rural businesses and communities which need to adapt and develop.
The ERDP provided a framework for the operation of separate but integrated schemes which provided opportunities to protect and improve the countryside, to develop sustainable enterprises and to help rural communities to thrive. A total of £1.6 billion of EU and Government money was made available under these schemes in England during the 7 years (2000-2006) of the Programme.
New Rural Development Programme for England 2007- 2013
The ERDP has been replaced by the RDPE which provides funding for rural areas. Please see the RDPE pages for further information on the new Programme.
ERDP Schemes – Current Status
Land Based Schemes
There were several types of land based scheme under the ERDP, some of which are closed, whilst others have rolled forward into the new Rural Development Programme for England.
The following schemes are closed to new applicants though existing agreements will continue until their expiry date or in some cases may be converted into new schemes. Please click on the links for further information. Information is provided for existing scheme holders and reference purposes only.
Countryside Stewardship
Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme
Farm Woodland Premium Scheme
Woodland Grant Scheme
Organic Farming Scheme
The following schemes have rolled forward into the RDPE and are currently open to new applicants.
Environmental Stewardship
Hill Farm Allowance
English Woodland Grant Scheme
Forms and Guidance for the landbased schemes, both closed and continuing, under the ERDP are available.
Energy Crops Scheme
The Energy Crops Scheme under the England Rural Development Programme has closed to new applications. A new Energy Crops Scheme under the Rural Development Programme for England opened to new applications from 1st October 2007. See the Natural England website for further information.
Information on agri-environment schemes operating before the launch of the ERDP is also available. These schemes are no longer open to applications, and in some cases have been integrated within the ERDP agri-environment Schemes listed here. Information is provided for existing scheme holders and reference purposes only.
Project Based Schemes
All of the Project Based Schemes are closed to new applicants. Information is provided for existing scheme holders and reference purposes only.
Rural Enterprise Scheme
Vocational Training Scheme
Processing and Marketing Grant
Energy Crops Producer Groups
Project holders for the Project Based schemes should refer to their RDA contact for forms
ERDP Annual Report 2006
Defra has published the seventh and final Annual Report to the European Commission on the England Rural Development programme (ERDP). It covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2006 and is submitted in accordance with Article 48(2) of Council Regulation 1257/1999 and Article 61 of Commission Regulation 817/2004. The report can be viewed at ERDP AR 2006.
Page last modified:
21 October, 2008
Page published: 13 September, 2005