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3 yearsÌý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£707 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by:Ìý

• measuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m)Ìý

• multiplying that length by the relevant width (12m to 24m) to give the area in m²Ìý

• dividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into haÌý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is thatÌýthere’sÌýa grass buffer strip on land at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff, which:Ìý

• is alongside a watercourse or pondÌý

• has an intact sward throughout the year, without tracks, compactedÌýareasÌýor poachingÌý

The purpose of this is to:Ìý

• protect watercoursesÌý

• reduce the risk of potential pollutants, such as sediment,ÌýpesticidesÌýand nutrients, being transported to watercourses in surface water runoffÌý

• provide habitats for wildlife and form links to other habitatsÌý

• support an integrated pest management approach ifÌýlocatedÌýclose to cropped areasÌý

Where you can do this actionÌý

You can do this action on agricultural landÌýlocatedÌýbelow the moorland line that’s:Ìý

• identifiedÌýby you as being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you must keep written evidence of thisÌý

• alongside a watercourse (ditch, pond,ÌýriverÌýor stream)Ìý

• an eligible land type (as defined inÌýsectionÌý5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information)Ìý

• registered with an eligible land cover on your digital mapsÌý

• declared with a land useÌýcode which is compatible with the eligible land coverÌý

You can also do this action on eligible landÌýthat’sÌýin a flood riskÌýarea. Check theÌýÌýand read theÌýguidance on how to use the flood risk map. This can include land which may have flood risk management works carried out on it by a flood risk management authority, such as .Ìý

Eligible landÌý

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arableÌýcrops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixingÌýcrops	Ìý
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01	Ìý
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01	Ìý

Eligibility of protected landÌý

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:Ìý

• give notice to NaturalÌýEngland to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can offer you an SFI26 agreementÌý

• have received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (read section 10.1Ìý‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details)Ìý

Historic and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (readÌýsectionÌý5.3 ’Land with historic or archaeological features’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).Ìý

Available area you canÌýenter intoÌýthis actionÌý

Total or part of the available area in a land parcel.ÌýIt’sÌýyour responsibility to check that the area you enter is eligible for this action.Ìý

You must do this action on the areaÌýentered intoÌýyour SFI26 agreement. If something happens which means you cannot complete this action on some orÌýall ofÌýthe area, you must tell the RPA in writing as soon as possible.ÌýRead section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply withÌýyourÌýagreement’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.Ìý

Rotational or static actionÌý

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.Ìý

What to doÌý

You mustÌýestablishÌýand maintain a grass strip that’s:Ìý

• at least 12m wide and up to 24m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 24m wide, butÌýyou’llÌýonly be paid for the 24m widthÌý

• alongside a ditch, pond,ÌýriverÌýor stream, to create a buffer between the edge of the crop or fallow land and the watercourseÌý

You must make sure the grass strip is in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips.Ìý

Once the grass strip isÌýestablished, you must manage it in a way that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim.Ìý

During late summer, after the bird breeding season, you must cut part of the grass strip’s width next to the edge of the crop or fallow land. You must do this along as much of the strip’s length as possible. This is to provide some shorter vegetation and a range of habitat types.Ìý

Flood risk management authorities, such as , may carry out flood risk management works on the grass buffer strip ifÌýit’sÌýlocatedÌýin a flood riskÌýarea. Check theÌýÌýand read theÌýguidance on how to use the flood risk map. If this happens, you must repair any damage to the grass buffer strip as soon as reasonablyÌýpracticable.Ìý

You must not do the following on the established grass strip:Ìý

• allow livestock to access itÌý

• use it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)Ìý

• apply fertilisers or manuresÌý

• apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injuriousÌýweeds, invasive non-nativeÌýspecies, nettles or brackenÌý

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing grass strip to get paid for this action if it:Ìý

• meets this action’s requirementsÌý

• is not already being paid for under another environmental land management schemeÌýoption, such as CS option SW4 (12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land)Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must:Ìý

• establishÌýthe grass buffer strip within the first 12 months of this action’s durationÌý
• maintainÌýthe grass buffer strip throughout eachÌýsubsequentÌýyear of this action’s durationÌý

How to do itÌý

It’sÌýup to you how you do this action, as long as you:Ìý

• follow this action’s requirements – these areÌýidentifiedÌýby a ‘must’Ìý

• do the action in a way that couldÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aimÌý

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.

Evidence to keepÌý

You must keep written evidence that landÌýentered intoÌýthis action is at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use the soil management plan produced for CSAM1 or SAM1 toÌýidentifyÌýthis.Ìý

You must also keep evidence to show whatÌýyou’veÌýdone to complete this action, such as:Ìý

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoicesÌý

• photographs and other documentationÌý

IfÌýit’sÌýnot clear thatÌýyou’veÌýdone this action in a way that couldÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence.Ìý

You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.Ìý

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this actionÌý

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.Ìý

Scheme	Action orÌýoptionÌýcodes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFM4, OFM5, PRF2	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW19, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	OR3, OR4, OT3, OT4	Ìý
ES options	No ES revenue options	Ìý

If an action orÌýoptionÌýcannot beÌýlocatedÌýon the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. ReadÌýsectionÌý5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information for more details.Ìý

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action: Ìý

• SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2
• SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2Ìý
• SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  Ìý
• CSHT actions: CHRW4
• CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)  Ìý

Advice to help you do this action

The following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

How and where to establish the grass buffer strip

You can establish the grass buffer strip by either:

• sowing a seed mix
• using natural regeneration

If you’re sowing a seed mix, to help the grass buffer strip to establish you can:

• remove any subsoil compaction to prepare a seedbed (except on land with historic or archaeological features)
• cut regularly in the first 12 to 24 months to encourage the grasses to tiller – try to avoid cutting when the soil is wet as that may cause compaction

This action requires you to locate the grass buffer strip on land that’s:

• identified by you as being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff
• alongside a watercourse (ditch, pond, river or stream)

To intercept and slow runoff water, you can establish the grass buffer strip across a long, steep slope. Try to minimise the amount of water that is channelled along the edge of the buffer strip.

Maintaining the established grass buffer strip

Once the grass buffer strip is established, this action requires you to maintain it by managing it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

Cutting part of the grass buffer strip’s width

This action requires you to cut part of the grass strip’s width next to the edge of the crop or fallow land during late summer (after the bird breeding season).

It’s up to you how much of the buffer strip’s width you cut. Cutting up to half of the width from the edge of the crop or fallow land can help to provide:

• short grass for birds to forage in (such as grey partridge chicks)
• mid-length grass for species like brown hares
• long, rarely cut tussocky grass to give shelter and nesting places for birds and invertebrates

Remove the cut vegetation (where possible) to limit weeds and reduce the risk of it smothering the flower species. If this is impractical, you can finely chop the vegetation to spread it as thinly as possible.

Controlling weeds

You may need to control weeds when they appear. To control weeds like docks, nettles, thistles and common ragwort, you can cut the affected area, providing there’s still an intact grass sward. This action also allows you to use herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat weeds.