WILDLIFE schemes on North Yorkshire farms could bring £3 million into the area if they are approved.
Almost 50 Countryside Stewardship applications have been submitted to the Government by the county's farmers, with help from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG).
If approved, much-needed cash would be brought into the area over the next ten years towards enhancing and maintaining North Yorkshire's landscape, archaeology and wildlife.
Work proposed includes managing almost 2,000 acres of existing pastures, meadows and rough grazing, to protect and encourage wild flowers and ground-nesting birds.
About 150 miles of wide grass margins could be created to benefit birds, including barn owls and grey partridges.
Beetle banks, ponds and 7,000 trees and shrubs could also be reinstated under the conservation schemes.
Almost five miles of permissive access would also be created.
Phil Lyth, of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, said: "Farmers have again proved they are keen to meet the changing demands of the agricultural industry by taking part in long-term agri-environment schemes."
The Countryside Stewardship Scheme is one of the main agri-environmental schemes run by DEFRA under the England Rural Development Plan. So far this year, FWAG has submitted more than 1,000 applications for Countryside Stewardship on behalf of farmers across England.
Updated: 08:56 Tuesday, June 17, 2003
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