CMOR1: Assess moorland and produce a written record

What you must do to get paid for this action and advice on how to do it.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Rural Payments Agency
• Published: 21 May 2024
• Last updated: 5 August 2024 — See all updates

• Land types: Moorland and upland
• Areas of interest: Livestock management, Peat, Soil, Water availability and storage and Water quality
• Payment types: Revenue

This is an action in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme: expanded offer for 2024. You must read the SFI scheme information to understand the scheme rules and how to apply.

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£10.60 per hectare (ha) per year and £272 per SFI agreement per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that you understand how your moorland contributes to providing environmental benefits and how it could provide more in the future.

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on land located above the moorland line that’s:

• an eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1 ‘Eligible land types for SFI’ in the SFI scheme information)
• registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
• declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You cannot enter land above the moorland line into this action if:

• it’s a farmyard
• it’s used for turf or peat production
• the majority of its area is located below the moorland line
• it’s permanent grassland below the moorland line

Eligible land

Eligible land type	Eligible land cover	Compatible land use code
Moorland	Permanent grassland	PG01
Non-agricultural areas, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog	Relevant non-agricultural land cover	Relevant land use codes for non-agricultural land

Eligibility of protected land

Protected land	Eligibility
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)	Eligible – you do not need to get SSSI consent for this action
Historic and archaeological features	Eligible – you must get a SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.6 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI scheme information to find out how to do this)

Available area you can enter into this action

Total available area in a land parcel.

Rotational or static action

This is a static action. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must complete a survey to identify, assess and record the soil, vegetation and historic and archaeological features across the moorland area entered into this action.

To complete the survey, you must:

• divide the moorland area you enter into this action into blocks of around 10ha
• select a sample point within each 10ha block that’s broadly representative of the block’s main vegetation and soil types

At each sample point, you must identify, assess and record:

• soil types and condition, including the depth and wetness of any peat
• vegetation types and condition, including their height and structure
• the extent of bare ground
• the presence of historic and archaeological features – these will be identified in your SFI HEFER

You must use the information you’ve collected during your survey of the moorland to identify and record:

• environmental benefits the moorland is already providing
• opportunities to maintain, enhance or restore the moorland to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more

These environmental benefits include carbon storage, water storage and flow, biodiversity and heritage.

You can use a survey you’ve previously done of your moorland to get paid for this action if it:

• meets the requirements explained in this action
• was done in the last 12 months

When to do it

Within 12 months of this action’s start date you must:

• survey and record the required information for one sample point in each 10ha block of the moorland
• use the information from the survey to assess and record the environmental benefits the moorland already provides
• use this information to produce a record of opportunities to maintain or enhance the moorland to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more

In each subsequent year of this action’s duration, you must:

• repeat the survey at a different sample point within each 10ha block, trying to do this at about the same time each year
• use the further surveys to review your record of the environmental benefits the moorland already provides
• review your record of the opportunities to maintain, enhance or restore the moorland to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

• follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
• do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

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 keep

You must keep a written record of your:

• survey of the moorland
• assessment of the environmental benefits the moorland is already providing
• assessment of opportunities to maintain, enhance or restore the moorland to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more

You must supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action. For example, winter cover followed by a summer companion crop. Read ‘What to do’ and ‘When to do it’ to find out when this action must be done.

Scheme	Action or option codes
SFI 2024 actions	HEF5, HEF6, HEF8, OFM3, UPL1, UPL2, UPL3, UPL7, UPL8, UPL9, UPL10 (if located above the moorland line)
SFI 2023 actions	None
CS options	All CS management options (if located above the moorland line)
ES options	All ES revenue options (if located above the moorland line)
SFI pilot standards	No SFI pilot standards

If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 6 ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’ in the SFI scheme information for more details. 

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:

• SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1 and BND2
• SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3
• CS option BE3 (management of hedgerows)
• the introductory level of the SFI pilot hedgerows standard

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.

How to record your moorland survey

You can record your survey digitally or on paper. You may also want to take photographs of the vegetation you assess and the surrounding area.

When to do the survey

The best time to survey moorland is between mid-July and the end of October. This avoids the main bird breeding season (March to mid-July).

Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay the survey until the birds fledge.

Try to avoid doing the survey after periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

How to divide your moorland into blocks

To divide your moorland into blocks of around 10 hectares (ha), you may find it helpful to use:

• a paper or digital Ordnance Survey (OS) map that’s a scale of 1:10,000 or 1:25,000 and shows contours – you can overlay the OS map with a grid to divide the moorland into rectangular blocks
• the MAGIC website – you can zoom in to a scale of 1:25000 or 1:10000 to see 10ha squares covering all land within the moorland line

How to select sample points within the blocks

This action requires you to repeat the survey at a different sample point within each 10ha block each year of the action’s 3-year duration.

Before you do your initial survey, it will help if you:

• divide each 10ha block into 3 smaller areas
• select a sample point within each of the 3 smaller areas that broadly represents the main soil types and vegetation within the 10ha block – so there are 3 sample points in each 10ha block
• give each sample point a number on the OS map, so you can identify where your observations were taken

Choose sample points that you can safely access to complete the survey each year.

Carrying out your survey 

At each sample point, you can record its number on the OS map, and take a short walk around the area to identify, assess and record what’s required by this action.

How to identify soil types and assess depth of peat

Soil types include non-peat, shallow peat and deep peat.

To assess the soil type, and depth of any peat, you can use a thin rod or cane to probe the soil. You may find it helpful to mark the rod or cane with measurements from its base. For example, 5 centimetres (cm), 10cm, 25cm, 30cm and 40cm.

You can push the rod or cane into the soil until you feel resistance or to a depth of more than 40cm. If it meets resistance at a depth of:

• less than 5cm, record the soil type as non-peat
• between 5cm and 40cm, record the soil type as shallow peat
• more than 40cm, record the soil type as deep peat

If there is existing data available on the presence of peat and its depth, you can use this as an alternative to probing the soil.

Try to avoid probing the soil on areas with historic or archaeological features, as identified on your SFI HEFER.

How to assess the wetness of peat

The wetness of peat soils can affect the environmental benefits (carbon storage) your moorland provides.

If you’ve identified the soil type as shallow or deep peat, you can assess its wetness by:

• visually looking at the area
• probing the soil with the same thin rod or cane you used to assess the depth of peat

You can record it as:

• dry or firm peat, if no peat sticks to your thin rod or cane – you can also record it as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon storage)
• moist peat, if the area looks damp on the surface and your thin rod or cane is moist when you remove it from the peat – you can also record it as an opportunity to enhance the environmental benefits (carbon storage)
• wet peat, if there’s standing water, or water appears when you press the peat with your foot – you can also record it as already providing environmental benefits (carbon storage) which you can maintain

How to assess the roughness of the ground surface

The roughness of the ground surface can affect the environmental benefits (storage and water flow) your moorland provides.

A rough ground surface helps to:

• allow more water to evaporate or infiltrate the soil
• slow the flow of water by holding it back from watercourses

To assess the roughness of the ground surface, you can walk around the sample point and record if there is:

• smooth grass, bare ground or carpet moss – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (storage and flow of water)
• no or sparse bare ground, with at least the occasional hummocks of moss – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (storage and flow of water)
• frequent hummocks of moss or tussocks or grass or bracken – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (storage and flow of water) are already being provided, which you can maintain

How to assess the extent of bare ground

Bare ground is prone to erosion and can emit CO2 to the atmosphere as organic matter decomposes. This can affect the environmental benefits (carbon storage) your moorland provides.

To assess the extent of bare ground, you can look at the overall position across the sample point and record if there are:

• mainly large, obvious patches of bare peat or soil – you can also record that this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon storage)
• small patches (less than around 20cm) of bare ground amongst thin or newly established vegetation – you can also record that this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (storage)
• no obvious patches of bare peat or soil – also record that this means environmental benefits (carbon storage) are already being provided, which you can maintain

How to assess the extent of soil erosion

Soil erosion can affect the environmental benefits (clean water) your moorland provides.

You can identify:

• obvious signs of soil erosion, such as rills and gullies on exposed areas, particularly if they’re linked to water bodies
• erosion features, such as vehicle tracks and footpaths, as they can concentrate water flow on steep slopes

To assess the extent of erosion, you can look at the overall position around the sample point and record:

• large obvious patches of actively eroding bare peat or soil – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (clean water)
• small obvious patches of bare peat or soil – you can also record that this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (clean water)
• no obvious patches of bare ground or erosion – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (clean water) are already being provided, which you can maintain

How to assess vegetation on peat soils

On peat soils, you can look at the overall position across the sample point and record the presence of:

• peat-forming bog mosses, which hold water and are important to the formation of peat
• other peatland plants

For bog mosses, you can record if they are:

• absent or sparse – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon capture, clean water, water storage and flow, biodiversity)
• present in patches – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (carbon capture, clean water, water storage and flow, biodiversity)
• abundant – you can also record that this means that environmental benefits (carbon capture, clean water, water storage and flow, biodiversity) are already being provided, which can be maintained

For other peatland plants, you can record if there is:

• vegetation dominated by heather, bilberry, grass, bracken or moss (not bog moss) – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (biodiversity)
• mix of heather, bilberry, grass and mosses, with no clearly dominant vegetation – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (biodiversity)
• an abundance of peatland plants, such as cotton-grass, bog moss, cranberry and crowberry – you can also record that this means that environmental benefits (biodiversity) are already being provided, which can be maintained

How to assess vegetation on non-peat soils

On non-peat soils, you can look at the overall position across the sample point and record the presence of:

• taller, woody vegetation, such as heather, other dwarf shrubs, gorse, other scrub and scattered trees – these can contribute to carbon storage on your moorland
• tall or deep-rooted vegetation, such as tall and tussocky grasses, bracken, dwarf shrubs (for example, heather), scrub and scattered trees – these can slow the flow of water over the ground
• grassy or non-grassy (such as, dwarf shrubs) vegetation – the structure of this can affect how the moorland provides habitat for different species

To estimate the average height of the vegetation, you can use the same thin rod or cane you used to assess the depth of peat.

For taller, woody vegetation, you can record if there is:

• bare ground or vegetation mostly below around 10cm high – you can also record this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon capture)
• vegetation mostly below around 30cm high – you can also record this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (carbon capture)
• vegetation mostly over around 30cm high – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (carbon capture) are already being provided, which you can maintain

For tall or deep-rooted vegetation, you can record if there is:

• bare ground or vegetation mostly below around 5cm high – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (water storage and flow)
• vegetation most below around 25cm high – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (water storage and flow)
• vegetation mostly over around 25cm high – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (water storage and flow) are already being provided, which can be maintained

For grassy vegetation (areas with more than around 75% grass or herb cover), you can record if there is:

• uniform short vegetation that’s less than around 5cm high – you can also record this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (biodiversity)
• mostly shorter vegetation that’s less than around 10cm high – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (biodiversity)
• a mix of heights with a variation of at least around 10cm between tall and short patches – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (biodiversity) are already being provided, you can maintain

For non-grassy vegetation (areas with more than around 25% cover of dwarf shrubs), you can record if there is:

• vegetation of a similar height – you can record this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (biodiversity)
• a mix of vegetation heights, with tussocks or tall vegetation over 30cm - you can record this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (biodiversity)
• a wide range of vegetation heights including some tall vegetation over 50cm – you can record that this means environmental benefits (biodiversity) are already being provided, which can be maintained

How to identify the presence of historic and archaeological features

You can use your SFI HEFER to identify historic or archaeological features on, under or around the sample point. You can also record any of these features that you know of, or observe, which are not on your SFI HEFER.

You can record any risks to the condition of historic or archaeological features, such as:

• the presence of any trees, scrub or bracken on or next to the feature
• any activity by livestock on or next to the feature that disturbs the soil, causes erosion or compacts the ground
• land management practices that disturb the soil, cause erosion or compact the ground, such as use of vehicle tracks or heavy machinery
• burrowing animals, such as badgers or rabbits

Additional features you can choose to record

There may be additional features within around the sample point (for example, within 100m) that could affect the environmental benefits the moorland provides, such as:

• trees and scrub – you can record these as none, scattered trees/saplings and/or scrub, dense scrub, woodland or a mix of trees/scrub/woodland
• bracken – you can record this as none, more than 50% canopy cover with some litter, more than 50% canopy cover with dense litter
• drains and gullies – you can record these as none, channels mainly bare along base, channel base more than 50% vegetation, channel is blocked
• rock and scree – you can record as none, rock outcrops (for example, crags and tors), scree and boulder fields, limestone pavement

Identifying environmental benefits provided by your moorland

The environmental benefits your moorland can provide include:

• carbon storage and capture, to offset the effects of climate change
• clean water, to maintain or enhance water quality
• water storage and flow, to reduce the effects of flooding and drought
• biodiversity, to protect plants and wildlife
• heritage, to protect historic and archaeological features

You can use the information you’ve collected during your survey to identify and record the environmental benefits your moorland is already providing.

For each element you have surveyed (for example, roughness of ground), you can add up the total number of sample points you’ve recorded as:

• already providing the relevant environmental benefit
• having an opportunity to enhance the relevant environmental benefit
• having an opportunity to restore the relevant environmental benefit

If the greatest number of sample points for the environmental benefit and the element surveyed have been recorded as:

• already providing it, you can maintain it by continuing with your current management practices
• having an opportunity to enhance or restore it, you can identify what potential opportunities there are to change your management practices in future

The table below shows an example of how you could do this.

Environmental benefit	Survey element	Sample points - already providing	Sample points - opportunity to enhance	Sample points - opportunity to restore	Overall assessment
Carbon storage	Extent of bare ground	13	0	0	Already providing, maintain
Carbon storage	Peat wetness	3	3	3	Enhance
Water storage and flow	Roughness of ground surface	11	1	1	Enhance
Water storage and flow	Bog mosses	1	3	5	Restore

Future management practices you could consider

This action does not require you to make any changes to your management practices on the moorland.

At this stage, you are just considering what you could do in the future to help enhance or restore the environmental benefits provided by your moorland.

Some examples of what you could consider doing include:

• reviewing grazing management to maintain vegetation and allow bare areas to revegetate – this could help to reduce the extent of bare ground and provide carbon storage
• reviewing livestock management practices or managing water drainage, for example block grips and gullies, to break up waterflow pathways and reduce the amount and energy of flowing water – this could help to reduce the extent of erosion and improve water quality
• reviewing livestock or vegetation management practices to increase the average height and variation in heights of vegetation – this could help to increase the roughness of the ground surface and improve storage and flow of water

Published 21 May 2024
Last updated 5 August 2024 + show all updates

1. 30 July 2024

   Where you can do this action - an eligible land type is defined in section 5.1 ‘Eligible land types for SFI’ in the SFI scheme information. Published voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements.

2. 21 May 2024

   First published.