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3 years Ìý

How muchÌýyou’llÌýbe paidÌý

£489 per hectare (ha) per year Ìý

Action’s aimÌý

This action’s aim is thatÌýthere’sÌýa dense and diverse grass sward throughout the year which:  Ìý

• is on land at risk of erosion or surface runoff or that creates a buffer to a sensitive habitatÌý

• has a range of heights during the autumn and winter monthsÌý

• has minimal bare ground, so the soil is covered by vegetation and is not directly exposed to the elementsÌý

• has low fertiliser inputsÌý

The purpose this is to: Ìý

• stabilise the soilÌý

• reduce nutrient lossesÌý

• reduce the risk of floodingÌý

Where you can do this actionÌý

You can do this action on agricultural land that’s: Ìý

• identifiedÌýby you as being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff, or is important for buffering ‘sensitive habitats’ – you must keep evidence of thisÌý

• 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

For the purposes of this action, ‘sensitive habitats’ include: Ìý

• watercourses and waterbodies (streams, rivers,ÌýpondsÌýor lakes)Ìý

• sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) at risk of diffuse water pollution

• priority habitats – you can find these on or the Ìý

Eligible landÌý

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Arable land used to grow crops	Arable land	Land use codes for arableÌýcrops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixingÌýcrops	Ìý
Temporary grassland	Arable land	TG01	Ìý
Arable land lying fallow	Arable land	FA01	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) can 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: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action – (read sectionÌý5.3 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).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 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 actionÌý

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: 

• establishÌýa diverse grass sward on landÌýentered intoÌýthis actionÌý

• use a seed mix which includes at least 5 grass speciesÌý

Once the grass sward isÌýestablished, you mustÌýmaintainÌýit. To do this, you must manage it in a way that canÌýreasonably beÌýexpected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes: Ìý

• making sureÌýthere’sÌýan intact sward throughout the year, with minimal bare groundÌý

• grazing or cutting the sward during the spring and summer months, with cuttings removed in late summer after the bird breeding seasonÌý

You must not do the following on the grass sward: Ìý

• graze it with livestock during the autumn and winter months (usually from early October until mid-March)Ìý

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

• apply any fertilisers or manures from late summer until mid-winter (usually from mid-August until the end of January) – this is to reduce the risk of runoffÌý

• apply any livestock manures with 100 kilograms (kg) or more of total nitrogen per ha per yearÌý

• where you do not use livestock manures, apply nitrogen fertiliser to supply 50kg or more per ha of total nitrogen per yearÌý

• supplementary feed, except for non-energy based mineral blocksÌý

You canÌýmaintainÌýan existing grass sward 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 SW7 (arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input)Ìý

When to do itÌý

IfÌýyou’reÌýestablishingÌýa new grass sward to meet this action, you must: Ìý

• sow the mix by early autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start dateÌý

• maintainÌýit at the same location until this action’s end dateÌý

IfÌýyou’reÌýmaintainingÌýan existing grass sward to meet this action, you must do this until this action’s end date.  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 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 written evidence that landÌýentered intoÌýthis action is either:  Ìý

• at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you can use a soil management planÌýyou’veÌýalready produced for CSAM1 or SAM1 toÌýidentifyÌýthisÌý

• important for buffering sensitive habitatsÌý

You must also 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

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

• input records of nitrogen applicationÌý

• 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.  Ìý

You must supply this 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 or option codes
SFI 2026 actions	AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFM1, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2024 actions	AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFM1, PRF1, PRF2
SFI 2023 actions	IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
CSHT actions from 2025	CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
CS options	OR1, OT1
ES options	No ES revenue options

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.

What to sow

This action explains the minimum number of grass species required (under ‘What to do’).

You can tailor your choice of grass species to your soil type, how and when you plan to cut your sward.

The following species will grow in most conditions and can form part of a basic grass seed mixture:

• timothy (use with care as this is tussocky, vigorous and can become dominant)
• cocksfoot (use with care as this is tussocky, vigorous and can become dominant)
• crested dogstail
• ed fescue
• smooth stalked meadow grass

You can increase the environmental benefits by adding wildflowers such as:

• ox-eye daisy
• black knapweed
• bird’s foot trefoil
• common sorrel

Managing the sward

Controlling weeds and cutting the sward regularly in the first 1 to 2 years of the sward being established will encourage grasses to grow.

Cutting the grass sward

Before you cut the sward, check it for signs of nesting birds. Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay cutting until the birds have fledged.