What the action involves
This action’s aim is to create and maintain a 6 to 24 metre-wide buffer with raised ridges covered in vegetation that will intercept surface flows and allow water to infiltrate into the ground.
3D buffer strips are strips of land with a combination of grass (and other plants) and raised ridges, rather than a flat single level grass buffer strip. This is to slow the flow of surface run-off.
The purpose is to:
- improve water quality by stopping pollutants, such as soil and nutrients, from being carried away in surface water runoff
- improve drought resilience
- reduce downstream flood risk
- provide habitat corridors for wildlife
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 6 to 24m-wide vegetated buffer (on average) with tied, raised ridges along its length (as agreed with your adviser) – it can be more than 24m wide, but you’ll only be paid up to this amount
- make sure the grass strip is in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips
- maintain the buffer through grazing or cutting to create a varied vegetation structure with deep rooting plants and a rough grass surface
- remove soil compaction
- control invasive non-native species where present
Once a buffer is established, you must not:
- apply fertilisers or manures
- allow livestock grazing the buffer to access the waterbody
- use supplementary feed for grazing livestock
- use the land as access routes for vehicles or livestock
- 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 where eligible land will intercept and slow down surface flows from areas adjacent to land at risk of erosion. This could be, for example, improved permanent grassland next to a:
- waterbody (pond or lake)
- watercourse (ditch, river, or stream)
- field boundary
You can only do this action if you have an implementation plan or feasibility study agreed with Natural England.
You cannot do this action:
- above the moorland line
- on sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
- on land with historic or archaeological features (including Scheduled Monuments)
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
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.
