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3 years Ìý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£742 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by: Ìý

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

• multiplying that length by the relevant width (6m to 12m) to give the area in m²â€¯Ìý

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

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is that, throughout the year,Ìýthere’sÌýa habitat strip next to a watercourse:Ìý

• with a mosaic of grassland vegetation and naturally colonised or planted native tree and scrub species, which are near the watercourse (riparian) and have an open canopy Ìý

• with tussocky grasses allowed to develop Ìý

• without livestock,ÌýtracksÌýor compacted areas Ìý

The purpose of this is to: Ìý

• reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss Ìý

• increase water filtration Ìý

• slow down water runoff Ìý

• provide shade to the watercourse Ìý

• provide habitats and food for wildlifeÌý

• form links between other habitats Ìý

Where you can do this actionÌý

You can do this action on agricultural land next to a watercourse (ditch, river,ÌýstreamÌýor canal)ÌýlocatedÌýbelow the moorland line that’s:Ìý

• an eligible land type (as defined in sectionÌý5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in 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

Eligible landÌý

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for ²¹°ù²¹²ú±ô±ðÌý³¦°ù´Ç±è²õ or leguminous and nitrogen-fixingÌýcrops	Ìý
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01	Ìý
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01	Ìý
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01	Ìý
Scrub	Scrub –ÌýungrazeableÌý	WO25	Ìý
Scrub	Notional – scrub	NF03	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) offer you an SFI26 agreementÌý

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

Historic and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the featureÌýis located inÌýa land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel ifÌýit’sÌýeligible.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 action Ìý

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 habitat strip that:Ìý

• is at least 6m wide and up to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 12m wide, butÌýyou’llÌýonly be paid for the 12m widthÌý

• buffers a ditch, river,ÌýstreamÌýor canalÌý

ToÌýestablishÌýthe habitat strip, you must do one or a combination of both of the following:Ìý

• allow trees and scrub to regenerate naturallyÌý

• plant a variety of native riparian tree and shrub speciesÌý

You can remove soil compaction to prepare land for this action (if needed). Ìý

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

• cutting woody growth to create andÌýmaintainÌýan open canopy along the bank so there’s dappled shade for the watercourseÌý

• controlling the spread of injurious weeds,ÌýnettlesÌýor invasive non-native speciesÌý

• removing cut material (when you’re cutting) to control woody growth or the spread of injurious weeds,ÌýnettlesÌýor invasive non-native speciesÌý

• leaving any standing and fallen deadwood inÌýplace, ifÌýit’sÌýsafe to do soÌý

• leaving any mature and veteran trees inÌýplace, ifÌýit’sÌýsafe to do soÌý

You must not do the following on the habitat 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

• create orÌýmaintainÌýhard standing, boardwalks or closely mown access routes running parallel to the ditch, river,ÌýstreamÌýor canalÌý

In addition, you must not cut or remove vegetation unlessÌýyou’reÌýdoing it to:Ìý

• control woody growth or the spread of injurious weeds,ÌýnettlesÌýor invasive non-native species

• maintainÌýexisting access routes that are at an angle of 90 degrees to the watercourseÌý

• helpÌýestablishÌýthe habitat strip on previously arable landÌý

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing habitat 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 SW11 (riparian management strip)Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must: Ìý

• establishÌýthe habitat strip within the first 12 months of this action’s durationÌý
• maintainÌýthe habitat 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.Ìý

Evidence to keepÌý

You must 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. 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	OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CPAC1, CSP9	Ìý
CS options	OR1, OT1, SW15, SW16	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. Read sectionÌý5.6 ‘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.

Establishing the habitat strip

To establish the habitat strip, you can:

• sow a grass and herb seed mix where there’s no ground cover – this can help to establish it more quickly and reduce the risk of soil erosion
• plant native tree and shrub species along the bank and bank top to provide dappled shade to the watercourse – this could include species such as alder, willow, sallow or guelder rose

To help initial establishment, you may need to control injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species more often over the first few years.

Check:

• if you needÌýpermission from the Environment AgencyÌýbefore you apply herbicides near to a watercourse
• theÌýrules which apply to invasive non-native plant species

Managing the habitat strip

Once the habitat strip is established, this action requires you to manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You can manage the habitat strip in stages to minimise disturbance and create varied habitat.

Where existing trees form a continuous line along the bank or bank top causing dark shade to the watercourse, you can:

• manage woody growth cover to create a more open canopy – doing this on around one third of the area will usually allow sufficient light to reach the water
• leave occasional overhanging tree roots and branches to provide some cover and a future supply of woody material to the watercourse

To prevent livestock access to the habitat strip during the grazing season, you can use temporary high tensile wire or electric fencing (without the need for a permit). This type of fencing can help to reduce the risk of debris snagging and the fence being damaged if the watercourse floods.

You can maintain existing fishing access to the watercourse (usually 2m x 2m swims on the bank top). Try to avoid creating areas of bare soil on the bank top by maintaining a grass sward.