The landscape we see today is the product of thousands of years of human activity and is rich in sites of archaeological and historical interest. Every parish in Cambridgeshire contains such sites. In many cases the landscape itself provides the only surviving information about the earliest human presence.

While the countryside must continue to change in order to meet the different demands made upon it, archaeological remains are a vulnerable and non-renewable resource. Careful management is essential to ensure that our heritage survives in good condition.

As agriculture has intensified and farm machinery has become more powerful, many historic sites have been damaged or destroyed. Historic farm buildings and traditional field patterns have become less relevant to modern farming. Despite this, it is possible to take steps to prevent further losses. Agri-environment schemes can offer payments for protecting cropmark and other archaeological sites through reverting arable to grassland and rewarding sensitive management of existing earthworks.

The Countryside Advisor can help you identify sites of interest on your farm and show how the conservation of historic features need not conflict with good agricultural practice. Advice and assistance with the archaeological element of agri-environment schemes is also available, including farm audits and management plans.

What can farmers to do to help

Although many archaeological sites have been unintentionally damaged in the past, it is now possible to take positive steps to prevent further loss through Defra's Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

Agri-environment schemes can offer payments for the conservation and maintenance of features of historic interest. Contract Defra for information and application packs for Environmental Stewardship.