VED1: Educational access visits

This item is part of Capital Grants 2026. You must read the Capital Grants 2026 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.

This grant pays for one visit per group only. If a group visits more than once, you cannot make another claim.

It allows groups of people to visit farms and woodlands and better understand:

It promotes general health and wellbeing by encouraging people to explore the landscape and learn about its wildlife and history.

The agreement will last for 3 years, and you can host up to 25 funded farm or woodland visits each year. The maximum you can claim is £9,075 per year, up to £27,225 over 3 years of the agreement.

You can use this item to host educational visits to your farm or woodland. You must have a separate agri-environment or woodland agreement with management actions or options to be eligible for this item. You can also use neighbouring land (with the owner’s permission) to meet the needs of the group.

If you have a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreement running alongside this capital item, you will need to re-apply for VED1 every 3 years.

You cannot use this item if you have a Countryside Stewardship agreement with ED1: Educational access or an Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Stewardship agreement with HN8CW and HN9CW: Educational access payments.

You must carry out a risk assessment before each visit and provide a copy of the assessment to visiting group leaders.

The visit should include a tour lasting at least 2 hours, The tour should be led by a member of staff or volunteer who suits the visitors’ needs.

During the tour explain the links between farming, conservation, food production, or woodland management using the land as a classroom.