Rural Development Programme launched

March 30th, 2008

The Rural Development Programme for England was launched in the South West in February and will provide financial support for a wide range of activities in rural areas including environmental stewardship, skills development, farming and forestry diversification, resource management, renewable energy supply chains and community-led development.

The RDPE is a seven year programme and is part of the Common Agricultural Policy. It aims to support and promote sustainable farming, forestry and food sectors, and also to bring wider benefits for the farming community, the environment and rural communities.

There are three areas of support:

Axis 1 – improving the competitiveness of the farming and forestry sectors with themes such as skills/business development and supply chain/added value

Axis 2 – improving the environment and countryside with schemes such as Environmental Stewardship and the Woodland Grant Scheme

Axis 3 – improving the quality of life in rural areas and promoting diversification of the rural economy with themes including resource management, social/community enterprise and sustainable rural tourism

Axes 1 and 3 are managed by the Regional Development Agencies whilst Natural England and the Forestry Commission will be managing Axis 2.

Killens can assist in providing further information on the programme.