FARMERS can earn cash for managing and protecting North Yorkshire's landscape, wildlife and historic features under a new Government scheme.

Areas which will benefit from the new Environmental Stewardship scheme will include the heather moorland of North Yorkshire, the chalk grasslands of the Wolds and the Dales meadows.

Ryedale farmer Andrew Wainwright of Sproxton Hall Farm, Sproxton, said measures he had taken to encourage wildlife on his land included planting hedges to promote wild bird life.

He was quick to point out that farmers would not be getting something for nothing with the new scheme. He said: "It's just a grant. We have to put money and effort in too."

Entry level stewardship will let farmers to earn up to £30 a hectare for work like maintaining hedgerows, leaving conservation strips around fields and creating beetle banks.

Application packs are available from the Rural Development Service on 0845 602 4096 and further details of the scheme at: www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/es/default.htm

Updated: 11:09 Wednesday, March 16, 2005