What the action involves
The aim of this supplemental action is to control the spread of bracken or remove existing dense bracken.
The purpose is to:
- maintain or restore the biodiversity value of the land
- allow different vegetation types to grow
- protect archaeological sites
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:
- control bracken so that cover is reduced to a set proportion by a set date
- use temporary grazing controls to protect vegetation regeneration
- graze to break up litter beds and damage young fronds to offer extra bracken control
- control reinfestation during the term of the agreement
- carry out follow-up cutting or grazing management to your site
The advice you’re given from Natural England is specific to your land which means (where relevant) you may also need to keep a monthly record of stock numbers.
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:
- photographs, associated invoices and field operations at the parcel level
- monthly record of stock numbers on the supplemental action area
Where you can do it
You can only do this supplemental action on land with a suitable base action approved by your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer.
You should use this supplement after using the capital items:
- SB4: Chemical bracken control – in exceptional cases only
- SB5: Mechanical bracken control
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
- CSP1: Difficult site supplement
- CSP2: Rewetting supplement
- CSP11: Manage scrapes and gutters supplement
- CSP12: Rhododendron control and management supplement
- CSP16: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (50 to 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%)
- 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
- CUP18: Manage features for wildfire management (fire and fuel breaks) 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
- CWS9: Manage woodlands for flood and drought mitigation supplement
- CWT12: Wetland grazing supplement
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 supplemental 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
- get advice from your Natural England adviser if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
- 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 Countryside Stewardship 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
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.
