What can management option uptake tell us about ecosystem services delivery through agri-environment schemes?

•AES funding only represented a small proportion (<15%) of total agricultural support.•Majority of AES payments to farmers were small (<£10k year-1).•AES options uptake is heavily biased towards habitat and livestock management.•The AES had no overarching impact assessment or measurable outcomes.•Prescriptive nature of AES limits the ability to promote long-term behavioural change.