THE RSPB is offering free advice to farmers in the Yorkshire Wolds and Coast area who would like to be financially rewarded for giving wildlife a home on their land.

From the middle of March, farmers will be able to apply for the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, a wildlife-friendly farming grant, aimed at "helping wildlife to thrive alongside agriculture".

The RSPB say that the Yorkshire Wolds and Coast area has the potential to help declining farmland birds such as skylarks and grey partridges, as well as other wildlife from butterflies to hedgehogs.

Chris Tomson, RSPB conservation adviser, said: "Countryside Stewardship applications are competitive so it’s important that any application makes the best possible case for helping farm wildlife and pollinators. By visiting a farm, I can identify the most appropriate ways for a farmer to help wildlife and increase their chances of making a successful application."

Mr Tomson is available to give free guidance on Countryside Stewardship applications, working both directly with farmers and/or in partnership with their agents and advisers.

Richard and Brenda Southwell, from Pear Tree Farm, Burton Fleming, said: "Having previously completed a bird survey on our farm and, as our Entry Level Scheme was coming to an end, Chris encouraged us to apply for the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme. The application was quite a daunting prospect so we were indebted to him for all the help and advice, highlighting the areas of our farm which were most appropriate for the various options."

The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is a UK Government scheme that is replacing environmental stewardship, the English woodland grant scheme (EWGS) and capital grants from the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme.

Applications for Countryside Stewardship are open from mid-March to September 30, 2016, with the agreements beginning in January 2017.

Farmers interested in chatting to Chris about helping wildlife on their land can phone 07900 164601 or email chris.tomson@rspb.org.uk