What the action involves
This action’s aim is that there’s an uncultivated, naturally regenerated strip of scrub and grass mosaic developing between arable land and woodland.
The purpose of this is to provide woodland edge habitat for birds, invertebrates, small mammals and other 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:
- allow the woodland edge to grow out, as agreed with your Natural England adviser
- only cut the scrub and grass, to maintain the mosaic and control injurious weeds and invasive non-native species
- cut no more than one third of the shrubby growth each year
- keep a monthly record of stock numbers grazing on each parcel
You must not:
- apply fertilisers or manures
- supplementary feed
- 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
- cultivate within 6 metres (m) of the woodland edge
- cut the scrub and grass mosaic during the bird breeding season (typically between March and the end of August)
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
- monthly stock records for numbers of animals grazing
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.
- SFI 2024 — AHW12: £428 per hectare (ha) per year - calculate the hectarage by: • measuring the length of the strip in metres (m) • multiplying that length by the relevant width (up to 6m) to give the area in m2 • dividing that area by 10,, over 3 years
Where you can do it
You can only do this action on eligible land that’s:
- adjacent to predominantly native or ancient semi-natural woodland
- located below the moorland line
You cannot do this action on historic or archaeological features.
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
This action is static. This means you have to keep it on the same area of land for the duration of your agreement.
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 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
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.
