Before the workshop — how to prepare
What the 30 April consortium meeting is for, what won't be decided on the day, and how to get the most from it
Landowners across the Ure Dales have been working together on this scheme for nearly 12 months. The 30 April workshop is the culmination of that process — the final shared session before participants confirm their decision. Landowners will not be asked to choose a legal structure at the meeting, but in the days immediately following it, they will be invited to confirm whether they wish to proceed. Coming well prepared means making that decision with confidence.
1. What the workshop will cover
- 1The income framework — the four-type model, environmental credits, the , and how distribution works under Model C
- 2The trustmark — what each tier is worth in financial terms, the multiplier rates, and what market access means in practice
- 3Governance — the SLE structure options, the DEFRA quality/value assessment, and the consortium's recommendation
- 4BNG and stacking — clarification of the December 2024 DEFRA prohibition
- 5Open questions — what is still being confirmed with DEFRA, including nutrient neutrality and carbon credit stacking
2. What the workshop will not do
No landowner will be asked to make their final decision at the workshop itself. However, in the days immediately following 30 April, landowners willbe asked to confirm which legal entity they consent to as the Scheme Lead Entity for the project. This is the key governance decision the consortium needs to move forward. The workshop is where the SLE options are fully presented and discussed — the decision follows in the days after.
3. Six questions worth preparing
How much of my land might fall within the scheme boundary — and do I have land outside it?
Do I hold a Countryside Stewardship agreement, and if so, when does it expire?
Are there parts of my holding with significant peat depth or woodland?
What is my current income from this land and what would the scheme need to deliver?
Who else in my family or partnership needs to be part of this conversation?
What would need to be true for me to say yes — and what would stop me?
4. What to bring
- Rough knowledge of your holding boundaries and area
- Your current CS or agri-environment agreement reference, if applicable
- Questions not answered on this site
- A sense of where your family or partnership stands on a long-term land management change
5. What happens after
- 30 April 2026
Workshop. Full scheme presentation, final Q&A, open issues recorded for written response.
- Days following 30 April
Landowners invited to confirm their intention to proceed in writing. Outstanding questions receive written responses promptly — days, not weeks.
- May 2026
Formal ratification period. Legal structure decision confirmed by the consortium through the consent process. 14-day minimum ratification window. Participation Agreements prepared for signing.
Questions submitted in advance can be addressed more fully on the day. Contact the project team before 28 April — send a question.