Defra has announced a new Expression of Interest (EOI) process to widen participation in the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) programme. Landowners and farmers can submit an EOI for agroforestry and woodland improvement, as well as new single-focus agreements designed to support specific environmental priorities in species-rich grassland and scheduled monument management Defra says that through single-focus agreements, accessing funding is easier and schemes can be joined faster. Up to 1,200 single-focus agreements will initially be available. It is possible to have more than one single-focus agreement. Defra says that all applicants will be contacted within 10 weeks of submitting an EOI with the outcome.