Farming Policy

Agriculture takes up around 70% of the land area of England, and the activities of generations farmers in the past have shaped the countryside we know today.  The farmed landscape itself is a complicated and fragile historic 'document', retaining the imprint of the farmers who worked the land throughout history and prehistory.  This makes modern farmers the custodians of a major part of the nation’s cultural heritage.

 There are over 120,000 recorded ancient sites on England's farmland, of which nearly 10,000 are designated as scheduled monuments.  In addition, 30,000 'working' farm buildings (barns and animal houses) and 30,000 farmhouses are on the statutory lists of buildings of 'special architectural or historic interest'.  English Heritage therefore works closely with DEFRA, with other countryside conservation organisations and with farmers and land managers in order to promote the conservation of the historic landscape.

We are closely involved in the design and delivery of DEFRA’s new Environmental Stewardship Scheme which will deliver important new benefits for the historic environment.  (If you want to find out about the historic features shown on your ELS environmental information base map visit www.pastscape.org)

We are undertaking research on traditional farm buildings, their repair and re-use.

We have prepared guidance for farmers, land managers and farm advisers on conserving historic features in our Farming the Historic Landscape series of publications.  For more information go to www.helm.org.uk  

We are participating in the Land Management Information System project to investigate how information on the historic environment can be provided most effectively to farmers and land managers.

We are also provide enhanced advice on the heritage to land managers by assisting local authorities by funding several Historic Environment Countryside Adviser posts across the country.