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3 years Ìý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£74 per hectare (ha) per year Ìý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is that livestock grazing on moorland is managed to avoidÌýimpactingÌýfeatures which are sensitive to damage from grazing, wherever possible. Ìý

The purpose of this is to: Ìý

• protect and improve habitats for birds,ÌýmammalsÌýand insects Ìý

• reduce bare ground and soil erosion Ìý

• improve water quality Ìý

• protect historic and archaeological features Ìý

Where you can do this actionÌý

You can do this action on landÌýlocatedÌýabove the ³Ù³ó²¹³Ù’s: 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

If a land parcel isÌýlocatedÌýabove and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if: Ìý

• most of the area is above the moorland line Ìý

• it’sÌýmanaged as one grazing unit with adjacent land parcelsÌýlocatedÌýabove the moorland lineÌý

Farmyards or land used for turf or peat production are not eligible for this action. Ìý

Eligible landÌý

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Permanent grassland	Permanent grassland	PG01	Ìý
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree,ÌýbrackenÌýand bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover, such as scrub, scree,ÌýbrackenÌýor bog	Relevant non-agricultural land use code to match land cover	Ìý

Eligibility of protected landÌý

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must get SSSI consent before you do this action. Read section 10.1Ìý‘SSSI consent’Ìýin the SFI26 scheme information to find out about:Ìý

• whatÌýit’sÌýadvisable for you to do before you apply for this action on SSSI landÌý

• how to give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent – you will not be offered an SFI26 agreement until Natural England confirms you have done thisÌý

• what stocking and shepherding information you need to provide with your SSSI noticeÌý

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 available area in a land parcel (at the point of application). 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 remove all livestock, except resident ponies, from land entered into this action for at least 4 consecutive calendar months. Ìý

‘Resident ponies’ means ponies which are traditionally kept on the moorland, such as Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies. Ìý

When the livestock are on the moorland, you must take reasonable steps to minimise their access to ‘sensitive features’ by: Ìý

• shepherding or herding them away Ìý

• using temporary fencing ifÌýthat’sÌýpossible Ìý

Sensitive features are areas on the moorland that can easily be damaged by grazing or poaching caused by livestock. They include: Ìý

• bare ground, peat soils,ÌýgulliesÌýand steep slopes Ìý

• vegetation on wet peaty areas – such as blanket bog, wet heath, upland flushes,ÌýfensÌýand swamps Ìý

• woody vegetation – such as fragmented heath, mountain heath and willow scrub, dry heath, long degenerate heather, deciduous woodland, and scrub Ìý

• grassy vegetation – such as upland calcareous grassland, limestone pavement, purple moor-grass, rushÌýpastureÌýandÌýCalaminarianÌýgrassland  Ìý

• historic or archaeological features, including scheduled monuments – these areÌýidentifiedÌýon your SFI HEFER Ìý

You must not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on landÌýentered intoÌýthis action, except with mineral licks. You mustÌýlocateÌýthem away from sensitive areas.Ìý

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather conditionsÌý

You can carry out supplementary feeding of livestock in extreme weather conditions (defined as 2 or more consecutive days of deep snow or hard frost). In this case, you can feed hay or haylage, but only for the purpose of animal welfare. If you do this, you must:Ìý

• move the feeding sites around the landÌýentered intoÌýthis action to minimise damage to the soil and vegetationÌý

• avoid transferring undesirable species which are in the hay or haylage, such as docks or rosebay willowherbÌý

You must not:Ìý

• feed livestock on or next to historic and archaeological features, steepÌýslopesÌýor footpathsÌý

• use troughs or feedersÌý

You may need to reduce or remove livestock from the area to avoid damage to the soil and vegetation if you need to feed regularly during extreme weather.Ìý

Produce a written stocking and shepherding calendarÌý

At the start of each year of this action’s duration, you must produce a written stocking and shepherding calendar for each land parcelÌýentered intoÌýthis action. This can be a paper-based or electronic record.Ìý

The stocking and shepherding calendar must show how you plan to meet this action’s requirements, including: Ìý

• land parcel reference number and hectarage Ìý

• all the sensitive featuresÌýyou’veÌýidentifiedÌýin each land parcel – you can use the moorland survey completed for MOR1 or CMOR1 to show this, if itÌýidentifiesÌýsensitive features Ìý

• monthly numbers of livestock which will graze the land parcel, including their type and age bracket Ìý

• dates you plan to remove livestock and return them to the moorland Ìý

• shepherding or herding activities you plan to carry out when the livestock are on the moorland to avoid damaging the identified sensitive features Ìý

If you manage several adjacent land parcels as one grazing unit, you can keep one stocking and shepherding calendar for that grazing unit. You must include all the land parcel reference numbers whichÌýcompriseÌýthat grazing unit. Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of its 3-year duration. Ìý

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 aim   Ìý

You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’sÌýnot part of this action’s requirements.Ìý

Evidence to keepÌý

You must keep the required written stocking and shepherding record and supply this evidence if we ask for it. It can be recorded on paper or electronically. 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	UPL1, UPL2, UPL3	Ìý
SFI 2024 actions	CMOR1, HEF5, UPL1, UPL2, UPL3	Ìý
SFI 2023 actions	MOR1	Ìý
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW25, CWS1, CWS3	Ìý
CS options	HS4	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. ReadÌýsection 5.6 ‘LandÌýthat’sÌýalready 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 parcelÌýentered intoÌýthis action: Ìý

• SFI 2026 actions:Ìý

• SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2Ìý

• SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3  Ìý

• CSHT actions:

• CSÌýoptionÌýBE3 (management of hedgerows)  Ìý

Supplemental actions you can apply for with this base action Ìý

You can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land youÌýenter intoÌýthis action in the same SFI26 application.Ìý

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

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.

How to do this action on land that’s anÌýSSSI

If you want to do this action on land that’s anÌýSSSI, before you give notice to Natural England to getÌýSSSIÌýconsent to do this action, it’s advisable that you either:

• speak to Natural England about the livestock grazing activities you’re proposing to do on yourÌýSSSIÌýland to complete this action
• get other expert advice on grazing yourÌýSSSIÌýland

This will allow you to:

• make sure that the grazing activities you’ll do to complete this action are appropriate for the relevant type ofÌýSSSIÌýhabitat and its condition
• get an indication of the grazing activities that Natural England is likely to give youÌýSSSIÌýconsent for

ReadÌýsection 10.1 ‘SSSIÌýconsent’Ìýin theÌýSFIÌýscheme information to find out what stocking information you need to provide with yourÌýSSSIÌýnotice.

How to plan your shepherdingÌýor herding activities

This action requires you to take reasonable steps to minimise your livestock’s access to ‘sensitive features’ when they’re on the moorland. Livestock includes sheep, cattle and ponies, as relevant.

You can shepherd or herd your livestock to:

• distribute them more widely across the moorland area
• encourage them to access areas which need to be grazed
• direct them away from sensitive features that can easily be damaged by grazing or poaching

The frequency and timing of your shepherding or herding activities will depend on:

• the species and behaviour of your livestock
• the success of your shepherding or herding activities
• the type of sensitive features on your moorland

Carrying out shepherding or herding activities

When you carry out the shepherding or herding activities, try to avoid them causing damage to your moorland. For example, if you use a vehicle, try to avoid:

• damaging water flow, which is an important component of blanket bog and wet heath hydrology
• crossing areas that are particularly wet and boggy, and other areas containing sensitive features
• causing rutting, soil compaction or damage to surface vegetation

During the bird breeding season (usually March to early July), try to minimise the number of vehicles you use off established routes and tracks. This is to avoid bird disturbance and damage to nest sites.

Planning livestock removal from your moorland

Some sensitive features moorland features can benefit from removing stock at certain times of the year.

The following features may benefit from you removing stock during the winter months:

• scrub and woody vegetation – you can reduce trampling damage and allow the previous season’s growth to remain because dwarf shrubs are more vulnerable to damage from grazing when there’s little grass available
• wet and peaty soils – removing stock can reduce poaching and compaction damage to the soil surface
• historic or archaeological features – removing stock can reduce poaching and compaction damage to the soil surface

The following features may benefit from you removing stock in the spring or summer:

• upland calcareous grassland – grazing in winter rather than in summer reduces the dominance of vigorous grasses and allows plants to flower and set seed in the summer
• ground nesting birds – removing stock allows birds to fledge and reduces disturbance

This action does not require you to remove resident ponies, so they can overwinter on the moorland. This can help to:

• allow youngstock to learn from more mature animals
• maintain the herd structure
• allow the ponies to exhibit their natural behaviours

Neighbouring livestock

If the area of moorland you enter into this action is unfenced and adjacent land is grazed by other farmers or land managers, you may need to:

• consider the potential impact of neighbouring livestock straying on your ability to meet this action’s requirements, particularly the livestock removal period
• talk to neighbouring farmers or land managers about removing stray livestock from your area of moorland