SW11: Riparian management strip

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the riparian management strip 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:
Air quality, Biodiversity, Flood risk, Grassland, Uplands and Water quality
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier and Mid Tier
Funding (per unit per year):
More than £500

How much will be paid

£742 per hectare (ha)

Where to use this option

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier Part parcel Only on land that meets each of the following requirements:

  • it is located next to ditches, rivers or streams
  • it is grazed

Where this option cannot be used

  • Adjacent to any other grassland option or adjacent to woodland
  • On moorland or unenclosed land
  • On designated open access land
  • On Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) unless approved by Natural England

The following options can be located on the same area as this option.

How this option will benefit the environment

It prevents livestock access to the watercourse and provides a buffer strip. This will help reduce bankside erosion and the transport of pollutants to the watercourse. It will also provide habitat for wildlife and form links between other habitats. As the scrub develops, it may also help to shade and cool the watercourse.

Aims

If you’re selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.

Throughout the year there will be a riparian strip (at least 4 metres (m) wide), preventing livestock accessing the watercourse. This area will provide suitable habitat by being uncut, except to ensure that woody growth does not cover the whole area. There will be evidence that any invasive species are being controlled.

Prohibited activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.

  • Apply any fertilisers or manures
  • Apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you use best practice.

We recommend that you:

  • make sure the riparian strip is between 4m and 12m wide (it can be wider than this but you cannot claim payments for anything over 12m)
  • control all invasive non-native species, such as Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed or Himalayan balsam
  • cut only to control woody growth so that it does not exceed 80% of the total area

Keeping records

Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

  • Field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
  • SSSI approval where appropriate

Additional guidance and advice

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

How to choose a site

This option should be used in targeted areas to reduce diffuse water pollution, in particular where livestock access to the watercourse is causing a significant water quality issue.

How to manage the strip

Use permanent fencing to exclude livestock from the strip and watercourse. Include a gate in the fence to provide access to the site for management. Capital grants are available in Mid Tier for a variety of fencing and water supply capital items.

High tensile wire should be used rather than netting if the fence alongside the strip is likely to be flooded. This will help to reduce the chance of debris snagging and therefore will withstand more flood pressure.

Invasive or non-native weeds should be controlled in a way that is not harmful to the stream.

Woody species such as alder, willow and sallow should be encouraged, but not permitted to cover the strip completely. Trees or scrub must be controlled if they start to dominate the strip. This should be carried out in small stages and patches by:

  • making scalloped indents along the field or riparian edges
  • cutting back isolated sections of larger trees

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 Mid Tier and 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 updated - this option can form part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases.

  4. 'Air quality' added to Land use.

  5. Option updated for agreements starting 1 January 2022

  6. Updated for 2017 applications.

  7. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  8. First published.

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