GS14: Creation of grassland for target features

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the creation of grassland for target features option.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
4 January 2024 — See all updates
Grant type:
Option
Land use:
Biodiversity, Grassland and Uplands
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier
Funding (per unit per year):
More than £500

How much is paid

£528 per hectare (ha).

How long this option lasts

This option lasts for 10 years, instead of the standard 5 years for the grant scheme.

Where to use this option

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier on whole or part parcels, only on arable, temporary or former set-aside grassland that has low or moderate potential for the creation of grassland priority habitat.

Features that can be included in this option

You can use it on the following features if they are part of the land, even if they are permanently ineligible for the Basic Payment Scheme:

  • ditches, dykes, drains, rivers or streams that are less than 4m wide for the majority of their length in the parcel
  • permanent water less than or equal to 0.1ha, at the discretion of Natural England (larger areas may be permitted on coastal and floodplain grazing marsh)
  • temporary water
  • natural unsurfaced roads, tracks, paths and bridleways (as long as you can still carry out the requirements of the option)
  • bracken
  • scree, rock outcrops and boulders up to 0.1ha
  • grazed woodland and scrub that has grass underneath it and that livestock can access, at the discretion of Natural England
  • small areas of other habitat types, such as reedbeds, at the discretion of Natural England

How this option will benefit the environment

It will establish a suitable sward with a range of grass, legume and wildflower species. This will protect and enhance the targeted feature, as well as benefiting a range of other species, such as bumblebees, butterflies, birds or bats. Buried archaeological features will not be disturbed.

Requirements

You must establish a grassy sward with a range of grass, legume and wildflower species in the first year of your agreement.

Once this is established you must:

  • maintain it as permanent grassland
  • maintain a range of plant heights suitable for invertebrates, birds or other priority species
  • manage the grassland by grazing or cutting
  • maintain a continuous cover over historic features
  • use little or no manure, fertiliser, pesticide or supplementary feed
  • maintain scrub, rushes and other potentially dominating plants at the levels set out in the agreement
  • control undesirable plants (these will be specified in the agreement)

You will also need to agree a detailed implementation timetable for the creation of the grassland. This should set out how you will create it, including details of the varieties and quantities of seed or plant material you will use and where they will come from. It should also set out how you will manage the sward once it has been established.

Do not:

  • plough, cultivate or re-seed the grassland after successfully establishing it, unless agreed in writing with Natural England
  • harrow, roll or allow scrub or bracken to encroach on historic or archaeological features
  • carry out activities that may disturb birds or damage nests

Keeping records

On your annual claim you must declare that you have not carried out any activities prohibited by the option requirements.

You must keep the following records and supply them on request:

  • receipted invoices, consents or permissions connected with the work
  • field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
  • a standard soil analysis carried out in the last 5 years. The rules for farmers and land managers to prevent water pollution already require farmers and land managers to carry out soil testing on cultivated agricultural land - you can use these test results to meet the record-keeping requirements for this option
  • inputs used
  • any sites grazed will require a grazing activity record
  • photographs showing any areas where sward enhancement will be carried out
  • photograph of current scrub extent
  • photographs of the management undertaken

The detailed requirements for this option will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. You should discuss and agree these requirements with your adviser.

You can locate these options and supplements on the same area as this option:

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this option

The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.

Species and features this option can be used for

You can use it for a wide range of species or other features, such as:

  • priority species
  • scarce plants
  • bumblebees, butterflies or other targeted invertebrates
  • birds or other targeted vertebrates
  • feeding areas for over-wintering geese in target locations that are free from disturbance
  • buried archaeological features

You will need clear evidence that the feature is present on the site or close to it. You should discuss the suitability of the site with your adviser and agree what management is needed.

What is needed

The management of land under this option can be very varied, but it is likely to need:

After the agreement term, the grassland may be eligible for option GS13 - Management of grassland for target features.

Additional guidance and advice

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

This option can form part of an IPM approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases. If successful, appropriate and within proximity of cropped areas, these may limit the need for the use of Plant Protection Products and enhance wildlife and biodiversity on your holding. Read information on IPM at AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Integrated Pest Management and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).

Biodiversity

This option has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Higher Tier including how to apply.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 4 January 2024 + show all updates

  1. Update to How Much Is Paid

  2. New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

  3. Additional guidance and advice section added to explain this option can form part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases.

  4. Same bullet as below also updated to standardise soil testing information.

  5. Under heading “Keeping records”, 3rd bullet about soil analysis corrected to remove “… including analysis of organic matter by loss on ignition.”

  6. The Keeping records section has been updated

  7. Updated for 2017 applications.

  8. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  9. First published.

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