CSP2: Rewetting supplement

Where you can do it

You can only do this supplemental action in combination with a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) base action if:

• there’s a need to restore habitat wetness or manage the habitat so it’s continually wet
• the base action does not cover the cost of time-consuming management or significant changes to existing practices are needed to achieve the action’s aim

You can only do this supplemental action if you have an implementation plan or feasibility study agreed with Natural England.

You can do this supplemental action with the following CSHT base actions:

• CLH1: Manage lowland heathland
• CLH2: Restore lowland heathland
• CLH3: Create lowland heathland
• CWD8: Create scrub and open habitat mosaics
• CWD7: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics
• CWD20: Create wood pasture
• CWD22: Manage wood pasture
• CWD21: Restore wood pasture and parkland
• CWD2: Woodland improvement
• CGS22: Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland
• CGS21: Manage grassland for target habitats, species or features

You’ll need approval from a Natural England specialist to do this supplemental action with the following CSHT base actions:

• CUP3: General moorland management
• CGS18: Manage species-rich floodplain meadows
• CWT3: Manage ditches of high environmental value
• CGS19: Manage wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl
• CGS20: Manage wet grassland for breeding waders
• CWT13: Manage and restore fen, reedbed and wetland mosaics
• CWT14: Create fen, reedbed or wetland mosaics
• CWT10: Manage lowland raised bog
• CCT8: Manage and restore coastal sand dunes
• CCT9: Manage and restore coastal vegetated shingle
• CCT2: Make space for new coastal habitat
• CCT10: Manage and restore maritime cliffs and slopes

Your Natural England adviser will agree with you what other supplemental actions may be needed to meet the intended environmental outcomes. This could include:

• CCT6: Coastal vegetation management supplement
• CES6: Maintain features for wildfire management (fire belts) supplement
• CGS16: Rush control supplement
• CGS23: Haymaking supplement
• CGS24: Haymaking supplement (late cut)
• CSP1: Difficult site supplement
• CSP11: Manage scrapes and gutters supplement
• CSP12: Rhododendron control and management supplement
• CSP16: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (50-80%)
• CSP17: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)
• CSP18: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%)
• CSP19: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)
• CSP3: Bracken control supplement
• CSP5: Shepherding supplement (non-moorland)
• CSP6: Cattle grazing supplement (non-moorland)
• CSP7: Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly supplement
• CSP9: Support for threatened species
• CUP15: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 30% GLU)
• CUP16: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 70% GLU) supplement
• CUP17: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (100% GLU) supplement
• CWS2: Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) supplement
• CWS5: Improve woodland resilience supplement
• CWS7: Manage historic features in woodlands supplement
• CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) supplement
• CWT12: Wetland grazing supplement

You cannot do this supplemental action:

• where land management actions (such as burning or cutting, unless part of an agreed restoration or wildfire mitigation plan) or infrastructure (such as field drains or tracks) are incompatible with rewetting
• in combination with any other actions or supplements that support wetting up, natural flood management or drought resilience
• where your feasibility study shows you’re unlikely to be able to re-wet the area

Eligible land

Same as base action.

Available area

Same or less than the base action.

Rotational or static

Same as base action.

Consents and permissions

To apply for this action, you’ll need:

• to agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer
• 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) or where land drainage or changing water levels affect nearby SSSIs
• to obtain the necessary consents and water resource licences from the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) or Internal Drainage Board (IDB) as appropriate before undertaking any works (for example, an abstraction licence, impoundment licence or transfer licence from the Environment Agency)

You may need to:

• get advice from your Natural England adviser if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
• get a licence from Natural England if your management affects a protected species or their habitat
• apply for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission to carry out some activities in this action
• get planning consent or permission (as appropriate) to divert a public right of way from your local planning authority, if your agreement requires installation of bunds or embankments within the floodplain

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 will discuss eligible capital items with you.