Rural Development Service
The Rural Development Service (RDS) is part of the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). RDS was created in 2001, when the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency merged with the then Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food's regional service centres.
The RDS is charged with the implementation of the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP), as well as a range of other rural services, placing the agency at the forefront of change in rural areas. The RDS employs 1,500 staff in eight regions, working with rural partners and local people to improve the environment, promote the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity and develop stronger rural economies and communities.
Following a review by Lord Haskins,
Following a review by Lord Haskins, enacted in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities 2006 in March 2006, parts of the RDS are set to be integrated with English Nature and parts of the Countryside Agency from 1 October 2006 to form Natural England, with the remaining parts becoming the Commission for Rural Communities.