NATURAL England has appointed two new advisers to help Durham farmers benefit from the entry level stewardship scheme.

Philip Bull and Alison Hiles have joined its North-East land management advice team.

Over the coming months they will attend shows, organise farm visits, run workshops and hold walks and talks. They are both already well known to many of the region's farmers and have a wealth of practical farming knowledge and experience.

ELS offers a reliable source of income and advice to help farmers undertake work to conserve and improve the countryside. There are more than 50 management options to choose from.

Alison Hiles said: "There has been a tremendous uptake in the region already and many farmers are using the scheme to great effect and helping to protect local wildlife and landscapes." The North-East has more than 1,800 entry level stewardship agreements covering 360,000 hectares. The scheme aims to conserve wildlife and biodiversity, maintain landscapes and protect historic features.

A 100-hectare farm can attract a guaranteed annual payment of £3,00 for five years.

Mr Bull said joining the scheme could often result in poor and non-productive land providing an income, while benefiting wildlife and the landscape. He has worked in the North-East for more than 24 years. A chartered surveyor he worked for ADAS on a wide variety of projects and has a wealth of practical land management experience and knowledge covering upland and lowland farming systems.

Alison Hiles trained as a plant geneticist, but since 1984 has been an agriculture specialist in a range of jobs, including running the Grazing Animals Project and farm liaison adviser for Durham Wildlife Trust. Farmers who would like to find out more can contact Philip Bull on 0191-229-5013 or Alison Hiles on 0191-229-3345.