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3 yearsÌý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£224 per hectare (ha) per yearÌý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is thatÌýthere’sÌýan established herbal ley with:Ìý

• a mixture of grasses, legumes and herbs or wildflowers to provide varied root structuresÌý

• areas of flowering plants from late spring and during summer monthsÌý

The purpose of this is to:Ìý

• produce a high volume of forage with minimal use of inorganic fertiliserÌý

• improve resilience to droughtÌý

• help improve andÌýmaintainÌýthe soil’s structure, carbon,ÌýbiologyÌýand fertilityÌý

Where you can do this actionÌý

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

• an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI 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 arable crops 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

Eligibility of protected landÌý

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Ineligible – you must not enter any areaÌýthat’sÌýdesignatedÌýas an SSSI into this action.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. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.       Ìý

Rotational or static actionÌý

This action is rotational or static. This means you can either:Ìý

• move its location for the second and third year of this action’s durationÌý

• do it at the same location each year of this action’s durationÌý

What to doÌý

You mustÌýestablishÌýan herbal ley with a mixture of grass, legumes and herbs on landÌýentered intoÌýthis action.Ìý

You must use a seed mix which includesÌýall ofÌýthe following (as a minimum):Ìý

• 1 grass speciesÌý

• 2 legume speciesÌý

• 2 herb or wildflower speciesÌý

IfÌýyou’reÌýestablishingÌýan herbal ley on landÌýidentifiedÌýby you as being at risk of soil erosion or runoff, you must use establishment techniques which minimise the risk of soil erosion or runoff. You can use the soil management plan produced for CSAM1 (or SAM1) toÌýidentifyÌýthis land.Ìý

Once the herbal ley isÌýestablished, you mustÌýmaintainÌýit. To do this you must manage it in a way, and forÌýa period of time, that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim.Ìý

You must minimise use of inorganic fertilisersÌýcontainingÌýnitrogen. Usually, this will be no more than around 40 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare per year.Ìý

You must not use the established herbal ley for storage or apply pesticides on it, except:Ìý

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

• to destroy the existing ley toÌýestablishÌýa new herbal leyÌý

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing herbal ley to get paid for this action if it:Ìý

• meets this action’s requirements – you may need to re-sow it to make sure it canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aimÌý

• is not already being paid for under another environmental land management schemeÌýoption, such as CS option GS4 (legume and herb-rich swards)Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must:Ìý

• establishÌýthe herbal ley by early autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start dateÌý
• maintainÌýthe herbal ley at the same location forÌýa period of timeÌýthat canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim – this will usually be until the end of the second summer after sowingÌý
• re-establish the herbal ley by early autumn (either at the same location or a different location) andÌýmaintainÌýit until this action’s end dateÌý

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 evidence to show whatÌýyou’veÌýdone to complete this action, such as:Ìý

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices, including details of the seed mix usedÌý

• photographs or 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	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3, SOH1	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3	Ìý
ES options	No ES revenue options	Ìý

If an action orÌýoptionÌýcannot beÌýlocatedÌýonÌýthe same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI 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) 

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.

Choosing a seed mixÌý

This action explains the minimum requirement for species in the seed mix (under ‘What to do’).

If you want to grow a high-quality herbal ley (which goes beyond the basic requirements of this action), the seed mix will usually include at least:

• 5 grass species, such as cocksfoot, festulolium, meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass, smooth-stalked meadow grass, tall fescue and timothy
• 4 legume species, such as alsike clover, bird’s-foot-trefoil, lucerne, red clover, sainfoin winter vetch and common vetch, and black medickand white cover
• 4 herb species, such as burnet, chicory, ribwort plantain, salad burnet, sheep’s parsley and yarrow

Try to avoid a mix of festulolium and perennial ryegrass making up more than 70% by weight of the total seed mix.

Your seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that is the best match for your land, local conditions and how you’ll manage the ley.

Where to establish the herbal leys

When you establish the herbal leys, by law you cannot cultivate or apply fertilisers or pesticides to land within 2m of the centre of a hedgerow. Read the guidance onÌýHedgerow management rules: buffer stripsÌýto understand how these rules apply to you.

How to maintain herbal leysÌý

You can maintain herbal leys by grazing them with livestock or cutting them (or both).

To help achieve this action’s aim, you can rest the herbal leys from grazing or cutting for around at least 5 consecutive weeks between early May and late July. This will allow flowers to open and provide a source of pollen and nectar for insects.

It can take up to 4 years for the roots to grow enough to improve soil structure and fertility.

You may find it helpful to read the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)Ìý.