Farm & Environment Services

Our team will offer advice and guidance on the current Countryside Stewardship schemes and create an application that will work for your business.  Mid-Tier agreements can include and mixture of capital and parcel-based options. Options can be rotational and non-rotational; agreements last for a 5 year period.  Capital works must be completed within the first 2 years and capital claims can be submitted anytime within that period. Water capital items are available in a Mid-Tier agreement and th...

Hedgerow and Boundary Grants are a great way to improve and reinstate traditional boundaries on your land.  Options range from hedgerow laying to stone wall restoration and include supplement options such as top wiring for stone walls.  The grant available is capped at £10,000, equivalent to 1,063 metres of hedgerow laying. 

Water Capital Grant Applications are part of the Mid-Tier scheme. However only certain options can be applied for, such as concrete yard renewal or roofing and there is a grant limit of £10,000.  These applications need the support of your local Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer as applications must be seen to directly help improve water quality.  It is important to note that you must be in a high priority area for water quality to achieve a successful application.

We can complete and submit all annual and capital grant claims.  Annual claims may be for an existing Higher-Level Stewardship or Countyrside Stewardship scheme.  Grant claims could be to claim capital works undertaken in a Hedgerow and Boundary Grant or Water Capital Grant.   

A wealth of experience in dealing with these types of schemes means that we offer advice and guidance on your exisiting schemes; whether it may be management option queries, alterations or payments. 

Applying for a new Countryside Stewardship scheme could be an option to increase farm income and create a further revenue stream that reduces reliance on the fluctuating commodity markets. It is also an effective way to secure grants for capital works whilst providing environmental benefits on your farm.  We will work with you to create a scheme that will run alongside your exisitng farming model whilst choosing the correct options to ensure a successful application.  Other grants such as the ...

Undetaking applications involves large amounts of paperwork and forms which can often prove to be stressful and timely. We can navigate through the application system and ensure that these are filled out correctly, we are also able to speak to involved parties on your behalf; such as a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer for a Water Capital Only Application. 

Our expertise will ensure you have the correct permits in place whether that be for sheep dipping, river bank repair work or waste exemptions. We also offer felling licences and other woodland management services. If you need an EIA actioning, whether it be to plough up permanent pasture or plant Short Rotation Coppice we will provide an efficient service.

Full or prior notification applications for all non or permitted agricultural developments. Also, provide a comprehensive business appraisal service for those looking to build a second house on the farm as well as business changes such as farm diversification. Our RIBA Chartered Architect, Stuart Woodall, has twenty years of experience working in Cumbria. Working with all the Local Authorities and the Lake District National Park. He has a particular interest in working on vernacular buildings ...

We offer cross compliance advice related to the Basic Payment Scheme and regulations related to slurry and silage stores. From 2019 we will be offering an all-round soil sampling service, and related nutrient advice in particular, where compliance with the new Farm Water Rules is required.

We are all faced with financial uncertainty from 2020, however, Mitchells will be working with farmers to utilise the anticipated ELMS, which is to replace Direct payments and the current Stewardship schemes. This transition is vital to the agricultural industry, so we will be working hard to maximise the opportunities open to you and your farm.

If you have a woodland and need help to realise its full potential, we can offer a full range of practical, financial and experience based solutions for woodland owners.  Our Chartered Forester offers the following:      •    Advice and support for woodland grant applications     •    Management plans     •    Felling licences     •    New woodland creation     •    Harvesting     •    Woodfuel