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3 years Ìý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paid Ìý

£588 per hectare (ha) per year Ìý

Action’s aim Ìý

This action’s aim is thatÌýthere’sÌýa mosaic of scrub,ÌýgrassesÌýand other flowering plants with: Ìý

• scrub cover allowed to develop, and managed so the mosaic is maintained Ìý

• a variety of species, heights, and structure Ìý

• growing trees and deadwood, where relevant Ìý

The purpose of this is to: Ìý

• provide pollen and nectar sources for beneficial insects, such as bumble bees, solitaryÌýbeesÌýand butterflies Ìý

• provide food and habitats for birds and mammals Ìý

• improve the quality of woodland edges and transitions between other habitatsÌý

• protect soils and watercourses by reducing soil erosion Ìý

Where you can do this actionÌý

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

• got existing scrub cover on less than 10% of its area 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 maps Ìý

• declared with a land useÌýcodeÌýthat’sÌýcompatible with the eligible land cover Ìý

This action is not suitable for: Ìý

• peatland, because creating scrub could damage itÌý

• land used by breedingÌýwaders, becauseÌýthey need open grassland habitatÌý

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
Permanent crops – horticulturalÌý	Permanent crops	TC01	Ìý
Improved permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01	Ìý
Scrub	Scrub – ungrazeableÌý	WO25Ìý	Ìý
Scrub	Notional – scrub	NF03	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 thatÌýcontainsÌýan 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. It’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 Rural Payments Agency (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 do Ìý

You must manage the areaÌýentered intoÌýthis action in a way that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim, including: Ìý

• allowing scrub to regenerate naturally or by planting a variety of native scrub species, or a combination of both, so scrub cover develops on between 10% and 60% of the area Ìý

• controlling wild herbivores to allow scrub to develop and establishÌý

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

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

• making sure tree guards do not damage growing trees, and removing them once trees are established Ìý

You must not: Ìý

• cut vegetation, unlessÌýit’sÌýto control injurious weeds and invasive non-native species including non-native trees, soft and hard rush,ÌýnettlesÌýor bracken Ìý

• graze with livestock Ìý

• apply fertilisers,ÌýmanuresÌýor limeÌý

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

• plough, cultivate, re-seed,ÌýharrowÌýor roll Ìý

• release gamebirds Ìý

• use supplementary feed for game birds Ìý

• carry out drainage works or change existing drainage, without written permission before work starts Ìý

When to do it Ìý

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration. Ìý

How to do it Ìý

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’, butÌýit’sÌýnot part of this action’s requirements.Ìý

Evidence to keep Ìý

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 Ìý

• photographs or other documentation Ìý

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 action Ìý

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	No SFI 2026 revenue actions	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	No CS revenue options	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’ in 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 actionÌý

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

Choosing a location

You can create scrub on a range of soil types. It will grow in unmanaged areas close to areas of trees and shrubs, where there is an existing seed source.

You can create scrub at most locations, but it can work well:

• on field corners
• alongside woodland edges or hedgerows
• on land which is difficult to graze

Allowing scrub to regenerate naturally

The simplest way to create scrub and open habitat mosaics is to allow them to regenerate naturally (natural colonisation).

Allowing scrub to regenerate naturally works best where existing areas of scrub (like hedgerows and woodland scrub) can spread.

Natural colonisation may not work if, for example, there’s:

• no local seed source (like trees or scrub that are left to set seed)
• a lot of dense, rank (overgrown and tussocky) vegetation like bracken

You can allow native scrub species to develop that will be less than around 5 metres tall, such as:

• hawthorn
• bramble
• blackthorn
• hazel
• dog and field rose
• low growing willow species

If you have calcareous soils, species could include:

• box
• privet
• buckthorn
• dogwood

Acid soils often have gorse or broom.

Planting native scrub species

You can plant a variety of native scrub species:

• to increase the diversity of shrub species – so you do a combination of natural colonisation and planting

• if natural colonisation is unlikely to mean that scrub cover develops on at least 10% of the area entered into this action by the end of this action’s duration

You can plant the native scrub species between November and March. Try to:

• choose a wide range of native species that suit the location
• mix species randomly
• plant in clumps and leave unplanted gaps – this will create open ground as part of the mosaic

If you’re intending to create scrub by planting or allowing natural colonisation of tree species, check if it falls under theÌýForestry Commission’s definition of ‘woodland’. If it does, you may need toÌýapply for a forestry environmental impact assessment.

Planting nursery-grown stock is the easiest method, but it can be expensive. Alternatively, you can spread seed. This is cheaper than planting, but it will take longer to establish.

Find outÌý

Managing the scrub

You may find it helpful to read Natural England’sÌý.