Each farm or parcel of land has something to offer nature, but because every farm is different, it can be hard to find out what the best thing to do might be.

The Rural Economy and Land Use Programme found that advice and training could significantly improve the environmental outcome of agri-environment schemes. This is backed by results from the White Peak Environmental Land Management Test (2019-2020) (opens new window), where farmers and land managers unanimously stated that advice was vital to their delivering Environmental Land Management schemes and nature recovery.

The role of Advisers and the potential skills and knowledge they would need to fulfil these roles is wide-ranging and variable. Themes that have been repeated through farmer and land manager workshops and work with Advisers in the Peak District are: for Advisers to have local knowledge, to have built trust within the farming community and with farmers and land managers, and to provide long-term, ongoing advice.

For nature

• Advisers can help farmers and land managers integrate nature into their farming system and business model, and make the most of their land for nature.
• Advisers can point farmers in the right direction to receive more incentives allowing them to do more for nature recovery.
• Advisers can facilitate farmers and land managers cooperating with conservation organisations, allowing them to become part of larger, more integrated projects across the area.

What else can local Advisers deliver?

• Advisers can help give confidence in delivery.
• Advisers can ensure a holistic approach, with schemes or plans delivering for a full range of public goods, including access and cultural heritage.
• Advisers can ensure land managers get the subsidies and rewards they deserve for their work towards nature recovery.

In practice

• Advisers should have local knowledge and practical farming and land management knowledge.
• Continuity of locally-based Advisers within organisations to build relationships and trust.
• Advisers available fairly, not just to those that can afford them.
• Advisers can help draw up agreements for schemes, and help with the application process.
• An Adviser may be needed to submit applications and paperwork due to poor IT skills or internet connectivity.
• Advisers can provide training to upskill farmers and land managers, for example to be able to carry out monitoring and evidencing.
• Farmers and land managers prefer to deal with one, or a few, key Adviser contacts.