GS12: Creation of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the creation of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl option.
How much will be paid
£547 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 parcels that have been in arable, fallow or temporary grass in the last 5 years. They must also have high potential for being restored to habitat for wintering waders and wildfowl.
You must also meet one of the following conditions:
- You use a recommended fertiliser management system to plan nutrient inputs across the farm
- You will adopt a recommended fertiliser management system within 18 months of the start of the agreement
- You qualify as a low intensity farmer
Features that can be included in this option
You can include the following features if they are part of the land, even if they are not eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS):
- 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 (larger areas may be eligible at the discretion of Natural England)
- temporary water
- natural unsurfaced roads, tracks, paths and bridleways (as long as you are still able to carry out the requirements of the option)
- small areas of other types of habitat, such as reedbeds and scrub, at the discretion of the delivery body
How this option will benefit the environment
It will create wet grassland for wintering wildfowl and wading birds from arable or temporary grassland. Fields will have well-established swards, with wet areas throughout the winter. Wading birds and wildfowl will be able to feed and roost undisturbed.
Requirements
You will probably need to:
- establish a suitable sward and manage it by grazing, and possibly cutting
- provide areas of standing water and wet features (such as footdrains, gutters and scrapes) to attract waders and wildfowl through the winter months (ditch water levels may need to be held high to achieve this)
- control and manage trees, scrub, hedges, rushes and undesirable species
- use little or no manure, fertiliser, pesticide or supplementary feed
The agreement will set out what you cannot do. It’s likely you’ll not be allowed to:
- plough, cultivate or reseed the grassland after successfully establishing it, unless agreed in writing with Natural England
- harrow or roll on historic 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
- inputs used
- a grazing activity record for any sites grazed
- bag returns, if an agreed wildfowl strategy is in place
- photographs showing any areas where sward enhancement will be carried out
- evidence that you are following a recommended fertiliser management system or that you qualify as a low intensity farmer
- 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.
Related options
You can locate the following options and supplements on the same area as this option:
- OR1 – Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland
- OT1 – Organic land management – improved permanent grassland
- SP4 - Control of invasive plant species supplement
- SP8 - Native breeds at risk supplement
- SP9 - Threatened species supplement
- WT3 - Management of ditches of high environmental value
In exceptional circumstances you can also use the following supplements but only at the discretion of Natural England:
- SP2 - Raised water level supplement
- SP5 - Shepherding supplement
- SP6 - Cattle grazing supplement
- SP7 – Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly
Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this option
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
For best results:
- use this option as part of a suite of wet grassland and target features options, over a wide area, potentially linking with other landowners
- use this option within, next to or linking Special Protection Areas (SPAs) or Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) that have wintering waders and wildfowl as interest features
- use this option within, next to or linking non-designated areas with good wader and wildfowl populations
- make sure this option does not conflict with Environment Agency, internal drainage board or local authority policies on flood storage, ditch and river management, water resources and fish migration
- apply for land drainage consent if necessary
- discuss the location of capital works with the Environment Agency, internal drainage boards and local authorities
- discuss the location of capital works with the Historic Environment Service if historic and archaeological features are present
Sites where the water supply is unreliable are not suitable for this option.
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
Last updated 4 January 2024 + show all updates
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Update to How Much Is Paid
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New payment rate from 1 January 2022.
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The Keeping records section has been updated
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Updated for 2017 applications.
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Information updated for applications in 2016.
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First published.