Countryside Stewardship Regulations 1998 (No. 1327 of 1998).

These Regulations, make provision supplementing Council Regulation (EC) No. 2078/92, as amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2772/95 which was in turn amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1962/96 on agricultural methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside. They provide for payments of grant to be made at any time during or after the agreement year to any person who enters a stewardship agreement with the Minister requiring him to carry out an activity which is conducive to a specified purpose (as defined in reg. 3) on land in which he has an interest (regs. 4 and 5). Schedule 1 specifies activities, which can be included in a stewardship agreement. Such agreement may be either a standard agreement or a special project agreement (reg. 4). These Regulations introduce provisions for the payment of grant in relation to arable farmland in specific areas of England. They also provide for the payment of grant to any person who entered a stewardship agreement with the Countryside Commission provided that the Minister has assumed liability for that agreement.