The South Hams countryside we see today is the result of centuries of farming and land management. Conserving this landscaping into the future requires continued farming and land management.

Agricultural support and grant aid is shifting toward countryside conservation with four specific types of support now available to land owners and farmers:

• Single Farm Payment
• Entry Level Environmental Stewardship
• Entry Level Organic
• Higher Level Environmental Stewardship

Full details are available on the DEFRA website.

A number of organisations can offer advice to landowners on conservation measures that might contribute to their grant applications:

• Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group.
• Royal Society for Protection of Birds (especially in coastal locations).
• Devon Wildlife Trust (especially on County Wildlife Sites).
• Slapton Cycleau Project (Slapton Ley catchment).

Dart Cycleau Project (Dart catchment) – on the Devon Wildlife Trust Website.

• Dartmoor National Park Authority (Dartmoor National Park).

Small scale grants, up to £2500, for specific countryside conservation projects are also available from Life into Landscape Project.