What the action involves
This action’s aim is that there are legumes growing from spring until early autumn.
The purpose of this is to:
- manage nutrient efficiency
- protect the soil surface
- provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology, and reduces nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff
- support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas
What you must do
Your Natural England adviser 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:
- establish a mixed sward of grasses and legumes in the first 12 months of the agreement
- establish legumes by adding them to an existing grass sward or sowing a mix of grass and legumes
- maintain the required area of the mixed sward for the length of your agreement
If you’re rotating this action around your farm for each year of your agreement, you must do it for a period of time that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
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 a land parcel level
- associated invoices
- photographs
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.
Where you can do it
You can do this action on eligible land that’s located below the moorland line.
You cannot do this action on:
- a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
- land that contains historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER) assessment
- peaty soils – read the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) guidance on characteristics of different soils for more information
- a priority habitat, including good quality semi-improved grassland and land mapped as ‘no main habitat, but additional habitat exists’ – these are mapped on Magic on the Priority Habitat Inventory
Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh that is managed as improved grassland may be eligible for this action, if agreed with your Natural England adviser.
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 at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
Consents and permissions
To apply for this action, you’ll need:
- Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
You may need to:
- agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviser
- get advice from your Forestry Commission woodland officer or Natural England adviser if you have other historic or archaeological features on your agreement land
- get a wildlife licence from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
- apply for an Environmental Impact Assessment screening or consent decision from Natural England if you intend to reseed existing permanent grassland
All historic and archaeological 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 will discuss eligible capital items with you.
