MORE cash for such things as dry stone walls and hedges under stewardship schemes have been announced by agri-environment minister Elliot Morley.

Following a review, higher payment rates have been introduced for capital works - such as the restoration of drystone walls and hedges - and for improving public access to the countryside through the Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) schemes.

Across Yorkshire and the Humber, 74km of dry stone walls, 255km of hedgerow and 3,831km of grass margins have been restored or created since the Countryside Stewardship Scheme was introduced in the early 1990s.

The average increase for capital works will be around 60pc. For example, payments for hedge restoration have increased to £5 per metre (from £3), while those for the restoration of dry stone walls have increased to £16 per metre (from £12). The base payment for providing a new permissive footpath or open access will rise to £350 per year, with an additional payment of 45p/metre or £41/ha respectively.

Simon Lovel, of DEFRA's Rural Development Service, said: "These walls, barns and hedges are the fingerprint of the Yorkshire landscape. As well as being important features in their own right, they make the fields stock-proof and provide shelter for animals during the winter. In addition to this, the hedgerows are an essential larder for birds and other wildlife through the year.

"Each part of the region has a distinct landscape flavour. You'll find more hedgerows in the East Riding and the wolds, while stone walls predominate in the northern dales.

"What puts the figures into perspective is that an experienced stone waller can only build five metres of wall in a day - depending on the weather. It also has an impact on local economies. This preserves traditional skills and benefits local communities. The ESA alone provides enough work to keep up to 20 wallers and masons busy."

For further information about the Countryside Stewardship and Environmentally Sensitive Areas schemes, or any other scheme under the England Rural Development Programme, visit the DEFRA website or contact your local DEFRA Rural Development Service office.

Officials cannot start paying these items at the higher rate at the moment as they are still subject to EU approval. They intend to hold on to any claims received until they can pay them at the new, higher rate. They advise that if this delay is likely to cause problems, they will arrange payment now at the existing, lower rate.

Updated: 10:14 Wednesday, February 25, 2004