GRANTS from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are really making a difference to the rural economy, environment and people, a departmental report concluded this week.

The annual report of the £1.6 billion Defra/EU England Rural Development Programme' for 2003 showed that 11,500 hectares of new woodland were approved to be planted under the Woodland Grant Scheme and Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. It also reported that some 2,750 new or renewed Countryside Stewardship agreements were finalised covering 114,000 hectares. The money gives support to farmers for landscape and wildlife protection work.

Meanwhile more than 2,000 full time equivalent jobs were created or sustained under new Rural Enterprise Scheme projects.

Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael said: "The report shows the ERDP is making a real contribution to rural areas."