What the action involves
This action’s aim is to manage land in an agroforestry system at an agreed density and spacing of trees on more environmentally sensitive land.
Agroforestry is tree planting that’s deliberately combined with agriculture on the same piece of land.
The purpose is to:
- reduce soil erosion
- improve water and air quality on agricultural land
- provide shelter for livestock
- reduce flooding
- contribute to net zero targets
What you must do
Your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.
To get paid for this action, you must:
- have or be establishing trees at the agreed density and spacing pattern
- replace dead trees where necessary to maintain the average of at least the minimum number of trees for the agreed density banding
- protect trees from damage from grazing livestock and pests, such as deer and rabbits
- prune and shape the trees once they become established
- manage weeds around the base of establishing trees
The advice you’re given from Natural England or Forestry Commission is specific to your land which means (where relevant) you may also need to establish a buffer if you’re planting trees next to a protected site (for example, site of special scientific interest).
When to do it
You must do this action each year of its duration.
Evidence to keep
You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence.
You must supply the evidence if they ask for it, including:
- field operations at the parcel level
- associated invoices
The same action appears in the other schemes under a different code. The work is broadly the same; the rate and the length of the commitment are not.
- SFI26 — AGF1: £248 per hectare per year, over 3 years
- SFI26 pays the same rate and commits you for 3 years rather than 10.
Where you can do it
You can do this action on eligible ‘very low’ density in-field agroforestry that contains established trees at any stage of maturity, including newly planted saplings with approval from a Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer.
You can only do this action if you have an agroforestry plan agreed by the Forestry Commission. You must also complete all agroforestry tree planting agreed in your plan before you can do this action.
For the purpose of this action, very low density means:
- there’s an average of 30 to 50 trees per hectare across the area you enter into this action in each land parcel
- the trees are usually planted in rows or a grid, spacing can be determined with your Forestry Commission woodland officer or Natural England adviser as you may need to apply for a forestry environmental impact assessment (EIA) – read the guidance on forestry EIAs for more information
- Ramsar sites
To be eligible for this action, the in-field agroforestry system must:
- contain established trees at any stage of maturity, including newly planted saplings if they’ll be left to become mature trees – fruit trees must be grown on semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstocks, which usually produce trees at least 4 metres tall
- be very low density
You can use this action on sites that are not suitable for the equivalent SFI action AGF1: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on less sensitive land. The standard management activities for AGF1 may not be suitable because:
- the land is classed as more ‘sensitive’ – these are identified as white areas on the ‘Land with low sensitivity to agroforestry’ map
- the site needs additional actions, supplements or capital items which are only available in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
This applies to existing SFI expanded offer for 2024 agreement holders of action AGF1. The SFI 2024 expanded offer is closed for new applications.
You cannot do this agroforestry action on protected sites, including:
- sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
- Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
- Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
You also cannot do this action where it would damage priority habitats, protected species or features of archaeological, historic or landscape value, unless you have approval from Natural England or Forestry Commission.
Eligible land
You can do this action on land that’s:
- an eligible land type
- registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
- declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
Available area
Total or part of the available area in the land parcel.
Rotational or static
This action is static. This means you must do it on the same location each year of the action’s duration.
Consents and permissions
To apply for this action, you’ll need:
- an agroforestry plan agreed with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer
- Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
You may need to:
- get a forestry environmental impact assessment (EIA) from the Forestry Commission – read the guidance on forestry EIAs for more information
- get advice from your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
- apply for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission to carry out some activities in this action
- a screening decision under the agricultural EIA Regulations from Natural England
- get a wildlife licence from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
All archaeological and historic features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).
If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.
Capital grants that support it
If you need to complete an implementation plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for capital grants plans funding.
You can also apply for capital items to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will discuss eligible capital items with you.
