Jonathan Armitage, head of farming at Strutt & Parker, said:

"Improving the environment shouldn't be left to the few people who can afford to do it, so an increase in payment rates is a step in the right direction. However, it seems unlikely that a 10% increase in CSS management payments or the extra £1,000 on offer through the SFI will deliver a step change in uptake given the costs of delivery.

"The increases in capital payment rates under CSS are more significant, which may encourage more standalone capital grant applications. The hedgerow creation payment, for example, has almost doubled from £11.60 per metre to £22.97 per metre.

"We also note that Defra has again decided not to increase payment rates for Environmental Stewardship agreements, which seems unfair to those stuck in old ELS/HLS agreements."