What the action involves
This action’s aim is to manage a dense grass sward to:
- intercept and slow surface runoff
- store water from streams and rivers
- allow floodwater to spread across a floodplain and naturally subside
The purpose is to:
- provide space to allow a river and floodplain to reconnect
- reduce flooding downstream
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 or maintain a dense grassy area during the first year of your agreement
- allow floodwater and surface runoff to flood and naturally subside over the parcel
- remove any non-biodegradable flood debris
- remove soil compaction before starting any work
The advice you’re given from Natural England is specific to your land which means (where relevant) you may also need to:
- plant a specified seed mix
- remove artificial drainage
You must not:
- apply manure or fertiliser unless agreed with your adviser
- fill in hollows and wet features in the field
- store materials in the action area
- apply pesticides – you may be able to use herbicides to spot-treat or weed-wipe for the control of injurious weeds, invasive non-native plant species, nettles or other plants if this has been agreed with your Natural England adviser
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 parcel level
- associated invoices
- photographs relevant to the action
Where you can do it
You can do this action on eligible land in the floodplain, where you’re connecting the river to the floodplain.
It can include:
- ditches, dykes, drains and streams that are less than 4 metres (m) wide for most of their length in the parcel
- natural unsurfaced roads, tracks, paths and bridleways, as long as you can still meet the requirements of this action
- bracken
- areas of scrub, rock outcrops and boulders up to 0.1ha
You can only do this action if you have an implementation plan or feasibility study agreed with Natural England.
You cannot do this action:
- outside the floodplain
- above the moorland line
- on land where you intend to store or spread fertilisers, manure or slurries
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 actionThis 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:
- to agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviser
- 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)
- to obtain any necessary consents from the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) or Internal Drainage Board (IDB) before starting any work
You may also need to get:
- advice from your Natural England adviser if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
- 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 will discuss eligible capital items with you.
