More money to be given to improve water quality in countryside

More money will be put into improving the water quality in the countryside and reducing the pollution created by farms, it has been revealed.

Earlier this week, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced changes to the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS).

It stated that it will receive a greater allowance in order to effectively safeguard the environment and protect the wildlife.

Jim Paice, agriculture minister, added that the plan is to increase the spending on HLS by more than 80 per cent over the next three years.

He stated: "This will guarantee the future of HLS, ensuring that the scheme delivers the greatest possible benefits for wildlife and the natural environment."

This money could be used to support projects such as the Demonstration Test Catchments initiative, which was launched by Defra together with the Welsh government in September 2010.

It was designed to reduce the amount of pollution from agriculture running into streams and improve the water quality in the countryside.

Posted by Claire Manning