BACKGROUND
Vincent Holloway, a semi-retired farmer with over 50 years of experience working with MAFF and DEFRA, attended an advisory meeting in January 2024. Despite his extensive knowledge, Vincent realized that the evolving agricultural schemes required additional guidance. He sought support under the Future Farming Resilience programme, delivered by the Farm Support Services team at ND+.
Vincent faced significant hurdles while applying for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship schemes.
Key issues included:
- Confusion over DEFRA’s updated schedule reference numbers.
- Inability to proceed with claims due to Historic Environment Record (HER) restrictions flagged by Devon SHINE.
- Delays caused by unclear authority from Natural England and Devon SHINE, impacting multiple land parcels.
WORKING WITH ND+
Bryony Berry from ND+ conducted an on-farm visit and provided tailored advice:
- Clarified DEFRA’s updated requirements and application processes.
- Guided Vincent to contact Natural England and Devon SHINE for resolution.
- Explained SFI actions in detail and provided essential contact information for follow-up.
Bryony’s intervention gave Vincent the confidence to challenge unclear restrictions and navigate complex compliance requirements. “Bryony was there to clear the ‘Mist’”
With advice from ND+, they changed the agreement by email from light hedge trimming to cutting back properly each year. The result was a small financial reduction which was easy but slow, and have now received their fourth payment.
The outcome has been financially worthwhile and they continue to manage the land as before.
Outcome
- Vincent successfully completed his CSAM3 (herbal lays) claim in January 2025 after overcoming delays caused by Devon SHINE.
- By October 2025, he still had unresolved outstanding issues with GRH6 (species rich) claims, ensuring eligibility for future funding.
- The support empowered Vincent and his neighbours to question procedural barriers, leading to positive outcomes across the community.
Impact
This case highlights the critical role of expert advisory services in helping farmers adapt to changing agricultural policies. Through personalised guidance, ND+ enabled Vincent to secure funding and maintain confidence in managing compliance challenges.
The outcome has been financially worthwhile and they continue to manage the land as before.
“Devon Shine and Natural England without written authority have been a real problem to us and our neighbours. Bryony gave us confidence to question their authority which has resulted in a successful outcome.”
Vincent Holloway
DON’T STOP HERE
If you want to know more about other local businesses who’ve worked with our advisors – check out the rest of our case studies.
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
If you would like to receive updates from us on our latest news, events and
information, you can complete our Keeping in Touch form below:
