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3 years Ìý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£350 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 managed toÌýmaintainÌýthe mosaicÌý

• a variety of shrub species,ÌýheightsÌýand 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 habitats Ìý

• 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 at least 10% of its area 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 maps Ìý

• declared with a land useÌýcode which is compatible 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
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01	Ìý
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01	Ìý
ÌýPermanent crops – horticulturalÌý	Permanent crops	TC01	Ìý
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): 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 doÌý

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

• managing the scrub and non-woody grassy vegetation by patchy cutting or light cattle grazing toÌýmaintainÌýthe mosaic Ìý

• managing the scrub so there’s dense and scattered scrub on between 10% and 60% of the area, as well as open areas Ìý

• managing the non-woody vegetation in a way that allows for scrub regeneration and produces a varied sward Ìý

• 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

You must not: Ìý

• graze or cut the area in a way that means this action’s aim cannotÌýreasonably beÌýachieved Ìý

• graze the area withÌýsheep, becauseÌýtheir grazing habits would not achieve this action’s aimÌý

• plough, cultivate or re-seedÌý

• carry out mechanical activities, such as cutting, in a way that may disturb breeding birds or damage nests, as birds, nests and eggs are protected byÌýlawÌý

• apply fertilisers,ÌýmanuresÌýor limeÌý

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

• release gamebirdsÌý

• carry out supplementary feeding of grazing livestock or game birds, except for providing non-energy mineral blocksÌý

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

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing area of scrub and open habitat mosaics 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 Countryside Stewardship option WD7 (management of successional areas and scrub)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

• stocking records to show grazing activity at a land parcel levelÌý

• field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoicesÌý

• 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 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’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

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base actionÌý

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action in the sameÌýSFI26Ìýapplication.Ìý

If you apply for SPM5, you can also apply for supplemental action UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70%ÌýGLU) or UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100%ÌýGLU).

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

Scrub will grow in unmanaged areas close to trees and shrubs, where there is an existing seed source.

You can manage existing scrub at most locations, such as:

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

Managing scrub and open habitat mosaics

You can maintain variety of shrub species, heights and structure by:

• allowing new areas of young scrub to grow
• increasing areas of open space within larger patches of scrub

The best way to maintain diverse scrub is with light browsing and grazing by cattle and wildlife. It’s best to graze during the summer and limit the number of cattle. At light density, cattle can graze and trample scrub to create open patches and maintain the habitat mosaic.

You may need to cut scrub in some areas if cattle either:

• are not available
• will not graze the scrub

Low levels of deer browsing can also maintain diverse scrub, but at higher levels can browse out any new scrub. You may want to consider deer management to ensure successful regeneration.

You can coppice small patches or areas in autumn or winter, to avoid disturbing breeding birds. Try to avoid cutting patches that are next to each other in subsequent years, as this reduces the foliage available for invertebrates to feed on.

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

Check if you need regulatory consents, permissions or licences

You may need to apply for a:

• felling licence from the Forestry Commission if cutting areas of scrub
• forestry environmental impact assessment (EIA)

ReadÌýsection 10 ‘Get any regulatory consents before you do your SFI actions’ in theÌýSFI26Ìýscheme information for more details.