Philip Bull and Alison Hiles have joined the land management advice team and over the coming months they will be attending shows, organising farm visits, running workshops and holding walks and talks.

ELS is a reliable source of income independent of fluctuations in farm prices and costs and has already ensured that thousands of farmers and land managers have the funding and advice available to help them undertake work to conserve and improve the countryside.

There is a menu of more than 50 different management options and farmers can create their own practical environmental management programme.

Philip, who lives in Bingfield, said: "Joining the scheme can often result in poor and non-productive land actually providing an income while benefiting wildlife and the landscape.

"Alison and I are available to provide expert and practical advice to anyone who is thinking about joining the entry level stewardship scheme.

"We will be out and about in the county meeting farmers and land mangers and able to provide advice about the schemes."

In the North East there are already more than 1,800 Entry Level Stewardship agreements, covering more than 360,000 hectares.

The scheme aims to conserve wildlife and biodiversity, maintain landscapes and protect historic features. A 100-hectare farm can attract a guaranteed annual payment of £3,000 for five years.

Alison, who lives at Esh in Co Durham, added: "There has been a good uptake in the region so far and many farmers in Northumberland are already using the scheme to great effect and helping to protect local wildlife and landscapes.

"The scheme has been well received by farmers and landowners and has proved that it can fit in with commercial farming and bring positive environmental benefits."