WHITCHURCH Down is to receive additional protection from ecologically unfriendly farming practices — and earn the tax payer a modest income — thanks to a new stewardship agreement.

The land is owned by Tavistock Town Council. Members of the town's properties committee last week heard that the Whitchurch Down and Sampford Spiney Commoners' associations both wished to enter the land into an Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) agreement with Natural England, initially for a period of five years.

The council's works administrator James Clapp said the council had endorsed entering into a Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement some time previously, although this had never materialised.

Mr Clapp said: 'The ELS agreement is a more basic, less stringent contract between the Commoners' Association and Natural England, which encourages less intense farming practice and good ecological land management.'

Mr Clapp told members that the town council would receive £1.60 per hectare, per annum, from Natural England, as a result of entering into the agreement.

'You are looking at about £160 a year,' he said.

'Potentially there could be access to further funding avenues for various land management projects through Natural England in the future as the agri-environmental agenda comes more to the forefront through socio-economic pressure.'

Mr Clapp added that by entering into the agreement, the council would be supporting Tavistock's rural farming community, safeguarding Whitchurch Down and ensuring a suitable stocking rate was maintained by Natural England.

Cllr Anne Johnson said the agreement sounded a good idea.

Cllr Brian Trew asked if there were any financial implications to the council as a result of entering the agreement.

'And does it take away any existing rights of other users of the common?' he asked.

Mr Clapp said there were no financial considerations, and users rights of the common land were unaffected.

In addition, the agreement only included land on which a prior agreement did not exist — the golf course and cricket club land which are leased from the town council would not be included within the ELS.

The committee agreed to back the scheme — the decision was due to be ratified by the council at its full meeting on Tuesday.