What the action involves
‘where relevant’ to features used by bats, owls and kestrels
You must use traditional materials, unless non-traditional material has previously been used. Updated wording on what you must do if you identify bat
What you must do
activity. Added wording on timing of carrying out maintenance work or minor repairs if bat activity has been identified.
Advice to help you Published voluntary advice to help you do this action. It is do this action not part of this action’s requirements
How to do this action
It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
- follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
- do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
When to do it
You must:
- complete the visual building maintenance assessment and building wildlife assessment at least once each year of this action’s 3-year duration
- carry out any necessary routine maintenance work or minor repairs within 12 months of identification, or by this action’s end date if the need for maintenance work or minor repairs is identified during the final year of this action’s duration – unless bat activity has been identified and the ecologist’s advice is to carry out works later
- install owl, bat or kestrel boxes, as relevant, within 12 months of this action’s start date, if you’ve identified they’re required in the building wildlife assessment
Evidence to keep
You must keep:
- the required records identified in ‘what to do’
- any receipted invoices (or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable), consents or permissions connected with the work on the traditional farm or forestry building
- a record of advice you’ve received from a licensed ecological consultant and any required wildlife licence, if you’ve identified bat activity in the building wildlife assessment
You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.
Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.
Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action. For example, winter cover followed by a summer companion crop. Read ‘What to do’ and ‘When to do it’ to find out when this action must be done.
Scheme Action or option codes
SFI 2024 actions No SFI revenue actions
SFI 2023 actions No SFI revenue actions
CS options No CS revenue options
ES options No ES revenue options
SFI pilot No area-based SFI pilot standards standards
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 6. ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’ in the SFI scheme information for more details.
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.
- SFI26 — HEF1: £5 per square metre per year, over 3 years
Where you can do it
To be eligible for this action, the traditional farm or forestry building, or parts of a building, must:
- be at least 400m from the main farmstead
- by the shortest practicable route, be at least 200m from a metalled public road – this means it’s got a hard surface, such as asphalt, concrete, paving stones, bricks or cobbles
- have been built using traditional methods, such as timber, brick, stone, tile or slate
- have been built before 1940 for agricultural or forestry use, such as housing machinery or animals, or storing crops or processing crops, food or forest products
- still be in agricultural or forestry use on your farm or land holding, whether or not this was the original use
- be in good condition – this means the fabric of the building is intact, so it’s weatherproof
You must have management control of the eligible farm or forestry building for the 3- year duration of this action.
You cannot do this action if the building:
- is a metal-framed Dutch barn
- was constructed as a dwelling
- is a farmhouse, residential or domestic building
Protected land
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Not applicable
Historic and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get a SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.6 'Land with historic or archaeological features' in the SFI scheme information to find out how to do this).).
Available area
Not applicable, as you’ll enter the area in m2.
Rotational or static
This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.