To meet the needs of a growing global population, reverse the decline in global biodiversity and adapt to the challenges of climate change, we are going to have to change the way we farm. One of the ways Governments across the UK have sought to address these challenges is through the creation of publicly funded agri-environment schemes (AES). Originally designed to have a singular focus on the protection and enhancement of on-farm biodiversity, modern iterations of these schemes have evolved to reflect the growing awareness of the need to promote a multifunctional landscape. This broader perspective allows for the recognition of the true value of these sustainably managed landscapes through the delivery of a diversity of outcomes; from food, to wildlife habitat, to carbon sequestration. This chapter explores how these schemes have evolved alongside the principles of sustainable land management (SLM), how they are shaped by the culture of the UK nations within which they develop, and how the role and importance of the landowner has changed from a passive recipient of instruction to an active participant in the design process. The chapter will also explore a case study scheme whose ambition of economic viability achieved through ecologically resilient land management enables us to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with achieving SLM.