Guidance

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier: preview guidance

Published 11 December 2024

Applies to England

This is preview guidance for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). It sets out what you can do now to prepare to apply and what funding will be available.

The full CSHT scheme guidance with the information you need to apply will be published before applications open in summer 2025.

1. About the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme   

CSHT pays farmers and land managers to manage land in a way that:

• protects, restores or enhances the environment
• mitigates the effects of climate change

CSHT can be done on woodland, farmed land, land managed for nature or a combination of these. This includes important environmental or historic sites, such as:

• sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
• commons
• woodlands
• scheduled monuments

CSHT agreements will consist of land management practices called ‘actions’. For 2025 there are 99 revenue base actions and 33 supplemental actions. You can only choose supplemental actions if you apply for the corresponding base revenue action. Each action aims to achieve an outcome that benefits the environment.

When you apply for a CSHT agreement, you can also apply for capital items to help you achieve your intended environmental outcomes. Read section 4: ‘Capital grants’ for more information.

The CSHT actions and capital items will allow you to:

• manage woodland and agroforestry
• create, restore and manage wetlands, coastal habitats, lowland peat, moorland and grassland
• manage waterbodies, such as lakes, ponds and rivers
• prevent flooding or improve resilience to flooding
• support species recovery of specific animals and plants
• provide permissive access to the public
• protect and restore historic or archaeological features

CSHT agreements will last for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. This will depend on the CSHT actions in your agreement with the longest duration (most actions will last for 5 years, but some will last for 10, 15 or 20 years). You must:

• complete the capital items included in your CSHT agreement within 3 years from the start of your agreement
• claim for capital items after you have completed them and within 3 months of the end of this 3-year period

1.1 When the CSHT scheme is launched

CSHT will roll out in a controlled way by invitation, so everyone gets the right level of support.

Natural England or the Forestry Commission (or both) will provide relevant pre-application advice from January 2025 to enable the farmers and land managers they invite to prepare an application. This may include a site visit. Farmers and land managers will be invited on a rolling monthly basis.

You will need to receive an invitation in order to get pre-application advice. We will provide more details in February about how other farmers and land managers who are interested in applying for CSHT can contact the RPA (Read section 1.3: ‘Other farmers, foresters or land managers’). 

Invited applicants can submit their application from summer 2025.

1.1.1 Agri-environment or mixed agri-environment and woodland CSHT or Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements that expire soon, or that expired in 2024

CSHT agri-environment agreement holders with an agreement expiring at the end of 2024 will have the option to extend their agreement with a ‘mirror’ agreement. 

HLS agreement holders with an agreement that expired in 2024 or that expires during 2025 may have the option to extend their existing agreement.

RPA will contact you if this applies to you.

Mirror agreements will not be offered to Higher Tier woodland agreements which expire at the end of 2024. If you make sure you have an up-to-date woodland management plan, you will be part of the pre-application pipeline.

If you accept an extension or mirror agreement, it will provide continuity of your payments until you are invited to apply for CSHT.

If you do not accept the extension or mirror agreement and want to apply for CSHT, you will need to wait until you are invited to do so.

1.2 Who will receive pre-application advice first

You will be invited to receive pre-application advice if you fall into one of the following categories.

1.2.1 If your existing CS Higher Tier agri-environment agreement expires at the end of 2025

Natural England will offer you pre-application advice if your CS Higher Tier agreement expires at the end of 2025. Natural England will contact groups of these agreement holders on a monthly basis.

Natural England will discuss with you:

• the range of new and amended actions available under CSHT and how they can be adapted to support your site
• if capital items are needed to support your application
• if some actions in SFI are more appropriate

1.2.2 If your existing CS Higher Tier or HLS agri-environment agreement expires at a later date

If your existing CS Higher Tier or HLS agreement ends beyond 2025, you will be contacted closer to your agreement end date.

1.2.3 You have an approved woodland management plan in place

The Forestry Commission will prioritise applicants with an approved woodland management plan already in place. The Forestry Commission will contact you to begin your pre-application process and will send you a pre-application form that you need to complete. The pre-application form will help you with preparatory work required for CSHT and:

• ask you to review the actions, supplements and capital items that are available in the new woodland CSHT offer
• ask you to check that your woodland management plan is aligned with the CSHT application you intend to make
• ask you to check that any other plans required are in place
• allow you to seek some early advice, if you need it

1.2.4 You have completed preparatory work for a new agri-environment or mixed agreement

Natural England or the Forestry Commission will prioritise applicants with approved plans already in place, such as an implementation plan or agroforestry plan. A Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will contact you to discuss:

• if you need any other plans to support your agri-environment or mixed application, such as a species management plan, on the application land
• the range of new and amended actions available to you under CSHT and how they can be used to support your site
• if you need to include any capital items to support your application

1.3 Other farmers, foresters or land managers  

Agri-environment applications

Please do not contact the RPA now. In February, we will provide further details on how you can contact the RPA if you are interested in applying for CSHT and:

• have not been invited to receive pre-application advice
• are not in one of the groups identified in section 1.2

You will need to be invited to receive pre-application advice. Not everyone that would like to apply will be able to do so when CSHT opens.

You may be able to:

• apply for capital grants to help you prepare plans to support a CSHT application (see section 4.1: ‘Prepare for CSHT using capital grants’)
• receive group support or one-to-one support from the Environmental Training, Advice and Facilitation Framework (ETAFF) (Read section 2.1: ‘Additional adviser support’)

Woodland management or agroforestry applications

You must have:

• a woodland management plan to apply for woodland management actions
• an agroforestry plan to apply for agroforestry actions

The plans must be approved by the Forestry Commission.

If you do not have these plans in place, you do not need to wait to be invited into the pre-application process to prepare these. Read section 4.1: ‘Prepare for CSHT using capital grants’ for more information.

2. Working with advisers before you apply

Natural England advisers or Forestry Commission woodland officers will contact you to discuss what preparation you need to do before you can apply. They can work with you to identify suitable actions and adapt them:

• specifically for your land
• to meet intended environmental outcomes

2.1 Additional Defra-funded adviser support

Some Defra-funded group support or one-to-one support will be available from Environmental Training, Advice and Facilitation Framework (ETAFF) advisers to customers to discuss:

• if CSHT is right for them
• the potential for additional environmental benefits at their site if they are an existing agri-environment customer

You may be contacted by an ETAFF adviser and offered group or one-to-one advice if you are eligible.  

3. About CSHT actions    

CSHT actions include:

• actions similar to some options available in previous CS rounds – some of these have been updated to reflect feedback from the farming and forestry industry
• new actions, for example for agroforestry or permissive access
• actions similar to some actions available in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)  that you might want to do in CSHT because they need to be adapted to your site to achieve the intended outcomes
• supplemental actions that you must do with the relevant base action as part of the same CSHT agreement

You can select any combination of available CSHT actions if:

• you have ‘management control’ of the land - read section 7.2: ‘Who has management control’ to understand what this means
• your land (or landscape feature) is eligible
• you have agreed this with Natural England or the Forestry Commission (and where relevant, the Environment Agency or Historic England)

Read Annex A for a summary of CSHT actions and payment rates available from summer 2025.   

Each action tells you if it’s compatible with funding from other environmental land management schemes in the same area.

3.1 Rotational CSHT actions

Some CSHT actions are ‘rotational’. This means that, after the first year of the action’s duration, you can choose to:

• move the action’s location around your land – usually for each subsequent year of the action’s duration
• do the action at the same location for each year of the action’s duration

This is set out in the description of each action.  

If you select a rotational CSHT action, you’ll tell the RPA its area and location for the first year of its duration in your application. This can be either:

• where it’s located at the point you apply
• where you will locate it, if it’s an action you can start doing within 12 months of the action’s start date

You can tell the RPA about a change in location and area of rotational CSHT actions towards the end of each year of the action’s duration, except in the final year. The RPA will publish further guidance on how to do this.   

3.2 Static CSHT actions    

Some CSHT actions are ‘static’. This means you must do them at the same location each year of the action’s duration. This is set out in the description of each action.  

3.3 SFI actions          

You can apply for SFI alongside your CSHT application for actions that do not need to be adapted to your land.    

If you want to apply for SFI, you should apply for SFI separately. You can apply for SFI first and then apply for CSHT once you’ve submitted your SFI application.    

You will need to check the relevant scheme guidance to make sure:

• you’re eligible to apply for both schemes on the same land
• actions are compatible
• you’re not being paid twice for the same action
• you’re following the relevant rules for each scheme

Some SFI actions have a limit on the amount of land you can put into them. Read section 1.3 of the SFI scheme guidance: ‘SFI actions with a limited area’ for the SFI actions this applies to.

The limited area also applies to some CSHT actions where these are similar to SFI actions with a limited area. These 6 actions are:   

• CAB18: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips (on arable land or permanent crops)
• CAB19: Pollen and nectar flower mix
• CAB17: Winter bird food on arable and horticulture land
• CAB16: Bumblebird mix
• CAB10: Unharvested cereal headland
• CAB11: Cultivated areas for arable plants

4. Capital items    

You can get paid for capital items to help you prepare plans to support your CSHT application.

Some CSHT actions will also require capital items as part of an application. You’ll need to discuss this with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer. You may need to complete some of these items in the first year of your CSHT agreement.

There are 6 capital items available now. Read section 4.1: ‘Prepare for CSHT using capital grants’ for more information and how to apply.

Defra intends to make a further 145 capital items available in CSHT to help you achieve the aims of the CSHT actions you want to carry out. 25 of these will be new capital items. You will be able to apply for these alongside the CSHT actions.

Some of these capital items are also part of the existing standalone Capital Grants offer. However, Defra announced in November 2024 that it was reviewing the capital items available under the Capital Grants offer and has temporarily closed the offer for applications. Further information on this review will be available in early 2025.    Read Annex B for a list of capital items and payment rates available to support CSHT.   

4.1 Prepare for CSHT using capital grants 

You may be required to prepare a feasibility study or plan before you can apply for CSHT. You can prepare plans before you receive pre-application advice.

For example, for woodland applications, you must prepare a woodland management plan and may need to prepare a species management plan.   

Each CSHT action will tell you if you need a plan in place as part of your pre-application preparation. You can apply for the following standalone capital grants to help fund your plan. You can apply through the existing capital grants application process for these items:

• PA1: Implementation plan – may be required to plan what you need to do to create or restore habitats or features
• PA2: Feasibility study – may be required to plan what you need to do to create or restore habitats or features
• PA3: Woodland management plan – required for woodland actions and some capital items
• PA4: Agroforestry plan – required for agroforestry actions and relevant capital items
• PA5: Moorland mapping – useful to map your moorland and record important habitats and features to plan the management actions and capital items for them
• PA7: Species management plan – may be required to plan management actions and some capital items to control invasive species, such as grey squirrels

These plans will help you decide which CSHT actions are most suitable to apply for and if you need any additional capital items to help you carry out those actions.

You must:

• complete the capital items included in your CSHT agreement within 3 years from the start of your agreement
• claim for capital items after you have completed them and within 3 months of the end of this 3-year period

5. When and how much you’ll get paid  

Your agreement document will set out:

• a summary of your revenue payments – this includes the indicative annual payment value for your selected CSHT actions and additional payments (where relevant) (section 5.3 explains how your payment is calculated)
• your annual payment schedule – this sets out the indicative payments you’ll receive for each year of your agreement and for the entire agreement period
• your capital items and how and when you can claim for them

Under a CSHT agreement, your annual revenue payment value is paid in quarterly instalments. You’ll usually receive your first payment in the fourth month after your agreement’s start date. You’ll receive payments by an automated BACS transfer. You must submit an annual declaration before you’re paid the fourth instalment.

5.1 Claiming for capital items

You need to claim for capital items separately.

5.2 Your payment statement        

The RPA will email your payment statement that tells you:

• the value of your payment
• the payment date
• how your payment has been calculated

5.3 How your payment is calculated   

Your CSHT agreement’s total annual payment value is based on:    

• what you’ve entered into your selected CSHT actions – in hectares (ha), metres, square metres (for scrapes and gutters), tonnes (for supplementary winter bird food) or the number of features (such as ponds), as relevant
• the additional common land payment for group agreements (if applicable)

6. Check if you’re eligible to apply

You can apply for a CSHT agreement if all the following conditions are met: 

• you’re a farmer, forester or land manager (if you’re applying on common land you must also be a ‘single entity’ – read Annex D: ‘Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing’ to find out what this means)
• you have management control of the land you want to enter into CSHT actions for the duration of those actions – read section 7: ‘Check if you have management control of land’ to find out what this means (or Annex D, section 4 for management control of common land)
• you are not being paid twice for the same activity included in other agreements

A farmer, forester or land manager is either:

• an owner occupier
• a tenant
• a landlord
• a licensor

When CSHT opens, you will only be able to apply if invited to do so.

6.1 If you’ve received a Lump Sum Exit Scheme payment   

If you’ve received a payment under the Lump Sum Exit Scheme to leave or retire from farming:   

• as an individual – you’re not eligible to apply for a CSHT agreement, unless you repay the lump sum
• as a partnership or limited company - if only some partners or shareholders left the business, the remaining partners or shareholders can apply for a CSHT agreement without repaying the lump sum

If you are only applying for the 5ha that you have retained, you may enter that into CSHT without repaying the lump sum.

This rule applies during the rest of the agricultural transition. Read: ‘How lump sum payments affect some CS options’.

6.2 If you receive delinked payments

If you receive delinked payments (which replaced Basic Payment Scheme payments from 2024), you can apply for a CSHT agreement. This is because you will not be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time (known as ‘double funding’).

6.3 Eligibility of public bodies      

A public body is a formally established organisation that is publicly funded to provide a public or government service. 

Public bodies will be able to apply for a CSHT agreement, but only if they will not be paid under CSHT to complete activities that are already: 

• required by statutory duty, which means they’re part of the public body’s obligations
• paid for by other funding sources, as this would be double funding

Public bodies include: 

• Crown bodies (including all government departments, executive agencies and trading funds)
• non-departmental public bodies
• local authorities
• national park authorities
• park corporations

See a list of all departments, agencies and public bodies. 

Parish councils and former college farms are not considered public bodies. They’re eligible to apply for a CSHT agreement

If you’re a tenant on land owned by a public body, you can only enter that land into a CSHT agreement if there is no double funding. Read section 7.3: ‘Land you occupy under a tenancy’ and section 8.2: ‘Land with other obligations or receiving other funding’ for more information.

7. Check if you have management control of land  

You must have management control of the land parcels you enter into your CSHT agreement for the entire duration of the CSHT actions you select for that land. You may not have management control for all actions, for example for actions that may change the land use. In these cases, you must get your landlord’s consent and their commitment to ensure the CSHT agreement is fulfilled.

Management control includes having control of any landscape features, such as hedgerows or ponds. Each relevant CSHT action explains how management control works for these features.

7.1 CSHT actions with different durations 

As there are CSHT actions with different durations (5, 10, 15 or 20 years), an action’s duration may be shorter than the duration of your agreement (the ‘agreement period’). This is because your agreement period will last for the action with the longest duration.

This means that, if:

• all your selected CSHT actions have the same duration, and start and end on the same dates, you must have management control of the land for the duration of your agreement
• your selected CSHT actions have different durations, or start and end on different dates, you must have management control of the land for the duration of each action

7.2 Who has management control 

You’ll have management control if you have sufficient control over how the land is managed to complete the CSHT actions you’ve selected. For CSHT, this means you’re the person actively farming or managing the land. Usually, this means you or your business are:

• an owner occupier who’s either farming or managing the land themselves or employing a contractor
• a landlord
• a tenant with a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) under the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, or an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy – read section 7.3 ‘Land you occupy under a tenancy agreement’
• a licensor
• a group farming or managing common land (including areas of shared grazing) – read section 4 of Annex D: ‘Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing’ to find out about management control of common land

You will not have management control if you’re a licensee, who only has access to the land under a licence arrangement. However, if you have wider land management responsibilities similar to a tenancy (such as a Ministry of Defence licence), read section: 7.3 ‘Land you occupy under a tenancy agreement’.

When you enter land into a CSHT agreement, you declare that either:

• you’ll have management control of it for the duration of your selected CSHT actions
• you have your landlord’s consent and commitment to ensure the CSHT agreement is fulfilled if you do not have management control for the duration of the agreement

You must provide evidence of this if the RPA asks for it.

7.3 Land you occupy under a tenancy agreement   

If you occupy land under a farm business tenancy (FBT) or an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy, you must make sure you do not breach the conditions of your tenancy by entering this land into a CSHT agreement .

Your tenancy must give you management control for the duration of the CSHT actions on that tenanted land. If your tenancy expires before the end date of your selected CSHT actions, your landlord will need to commit to completing the actions in the CSHT agreement.

You cannot have a joint CSHT agreement with your landlord because we do not accept joint agreements.

If you’re not sure if your tenancy will continue (or be renewed), you need to check this with your landlord before you enter the land into a CSHT agreement. 

8. Check if your land is eligible for CSHT actions

Your land or landscape feature will be eligible for the CSHT actions you select if the: 

• area or feature is in a land parcel that’s entirely located within England
• area is an eligible land type – this is set out in each action
• area is registered on your digital maps with an eligible land cover and declared with a compatible land use code – this is set out in each action
• feature, such as a hedgerow, is eligible for the CSHT action you select – this is set out in each action

Eligible land must also be any of the following:  

• an agricultural area (defined as any area taken up by arable land, permanent grassland or permanent crops)
• non-agricultural land (such as heathland, reedbeds or salt marsh)
• common land or shared grazing land (eligible for an agreement – read Annex C: ‘Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing’ for more information and requirements )
• woodland that is 0.5ha or more, with a width of at least 20m – read Annex D: ‘Applying for woodland improvement actions’
• recreational land
• land that supports a priority species
• a protected site

Protected sites include:

• SSSIs
• Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), including proposed SACs
• Special Protection Areas (SPAs), including proposed SPAs
• Ramsar sites
• terrestrial priority habitats

8.1 Land that is not eligible  

The following land is not eligible for CSHT:

• parcels with solar panels for generating electricity for use off-farm
• developed areas with hard standing, including permanent caravan sites and areas used for permanent storage – except traditional farm buildings eligible for grants under CSHT and yards, tracks and farm buildings proposed for management through capital items
• land that is already subject to another obligation incompatible with CSHT, read section 8.2: ‘Land with other obligations or receiving other funding’
• land you do not have management control of

You also cannot enter land (or a landscape feature) into your CSHT agreement if it’s being used for a CS or ES option, SFI action or SFI pilot standard that: 

• requires activities which are not compatible with the CSHT actions you select
• means you will be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time

Read section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’ for more information.

8.2 Land with other obligations or receiving other funding  

You cannot use a CSHT grant for activities which you are required to carry out under other legally binding obligations. This includes private contractual obligations for which you are receiving or have received funding from other sources. There may be exceptions. Read section 9.6.4: ‘Conservation covenants’ and section 9.6.5: ‘Land subject to a Flood Defence Grant in Aid schemes’ for more information.

RPA will carry out checks to make sure that activities are not funded twice from public money.

You cannot use CSHT to pay for any environmental management that is already required:

• by statutory duty, read section 6.3: ‘Eligibility of public bodies’
• through payment from Exchequer funds
• through grant aid from any other public body under any other grant scheme or obligation – Read section 9.6: ‘Other government funding’ for more information
• through any other form of legally binding obligation, including private contractual obligations for which you are receiving or have received funding from other sources – read section 9.7: ‘Private sector schemes’ for more information
• for planning permission
• for a section 106 agreement (or equivalent)
• to restore or remedy any work carried out illegally

8.3 Eligible land types for CSHT     

Land type describes the type of land in more detail. For example, different types of grassland, such as improved grassland and low input grassland (semi-improved or unimproved).

The land type must be eligible for your selected CSHT actions at the start of your CSHT agreement. If the land type changes because of the action you’re doing, it will not affect eligibility. You’ll continue to be paid for your selected actions. 

Each CSHT action sets out which land types are eligible. It’s your responsibility to check the land type is eligible for each action you select. 

The following are how certain land types are defined for CSHT.    

Arable land

Arable land includes land that’s been cultivated to produce arable crops, such as:

• combinable crops
• root crops
• crops grown for animal feed, such as maize
• field vegetables and cut flowers
• bulbs or soft fruit which are not ‘permanent crops’

Arable land also includes:

• fallow land that’s available for crop production
• temporary grassland – this is often part of an arable crop rotation and has usually been grassland for less than 5 consecutive years

You can manage temporary grassland as:

• improved grassland - see also improved permanent grassland
• low input grassland

Permanent crops       

Permanent crops are non-rotational crops that usually:

• occupy the land for 5 years or more
• provide repeated harvests (other than permanent grassland)

They can be:

• horticultural permanent crops, including commercial orchards, bush fruits, hops and vines
• non-horticultural permanent crops, including miscanthus, reed canary grass, nursery crops and short rotation coppice

Permanent grassland    

Permanent grassland is land used to grow grass for 5 consecutive years or more. It can either be improved or low input. 

Improved permanent grassland is permanent grassland that’s been agriculturally ‘improved’ by at least one of the following activities: 

• regularly reseeding, or reseeding within the last 15 years
• regularly applying fertiliser (typically at least 100 kilograms per hectare per year of nitrogen as an artificial compound fertiliser or animal manures and slurries)
• blanket herbicide application to treat weeds

Improved grassland will usually have a high cover (more than 30%) of ryegrasses and white clover, with a low cover of wildflowers and sedges. 

Low input (semi-improved or unimproved) permanent grassland is permanent grassland that’s been managed by doing at least one of the following activities: 

• no reseeding for at least 15 years
• applying low or no amounts of artificial compound fertiliser or animal manures and slurries
• applying localised or no herbicide to treat weeds

Unimproved low input grassland will have had no agricultural ‘improvement’, usually for at least 15 years. For example, no application of fertiliser or herbicide. This includes the land type ‘rough grazing’ as set out in the relevant CSHT actions (see also moorland). Many semi-improved and unimproved low input grasslands will be classified and mapped as, or meet the criteria to be, priority habitats.

Moorland

Moorland includes permanent grassland and certain non-agricultural features, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog, which are above the moorland line. You can find out which land is above the moorland line on the MAGIC website.

The vegetation of moorland areas is usually:

• semi-natural moorland habitats including heathland, blanket bog, rough acid grasslands, rushy flushes, swamps, mires and bracken
• upland calcareous grassland

Much upland moorland is either registered common land or shared grazing.

Woodland 

Woodland is defined as an area of land that:

• is at least 0.5ha
• is at least 20m wide
• is under a canopy of specimens that meet the definition of a tree - for example, it must have at least one woody stem and be expected to achieve a height of at least 5m

Land that meets this definition of woodland must also meet requirements for open space. Typically, open space in the woodland should:

• be appropriately scaled as part of the woodland
• be no more than 0.5ha for any individual space – larger open areas will only be considered as woodland in exceptional circumstances
• sit within the boundaries of the woodland area and be enclosed by woodland - some open space, such as glades and rides, may provide an access route from the boundary
• include, but not limited to, forest tracks, rides, wayleaves and other permanent open areas

Read the Forestry Commission’s: ‘Definition of trees and woodland’ for more information.

8.4 Eligible land covers and compatible land uses          

Land cover is registered by the RPA on your digital maps. It describes the physical nature of the land. There are 3 agricultural land covers:

• arable land
• permanent grassland
• permanent crops

 There are also other non-agricultural land covers, such as farm buildings or woodland. These are included in the table of ‘non-agricultural land covers’.

Land use describes what you’re using the land for. For example, you’re using arable land to grow arable crops, temporary grassland or leaving it fallow. Each land use has a land use code which you declare in the Rural Payments service. This is not registered on your digital maps.

For each land parcel you want to enter into an area-based CSHT action, you need to check that its area is:

• registered on your digital maps with a land cover that’s eligible for the action – read the guidance on how to check the registered land cover on your digital maps
• declared with a land use code that’s compatible with the registered eligible land cover (a ‘compatible land use code’)

The eligible land covers and compatible land use codes are set out in each action. 

Read ‘Land use codes for 2024’ for more information.       

8.5 Organic land 

If your organic land is an eligible land type and registered as ‘in conversion’ or ‘fully organic’ with an Organic Control Body (OCB) you can enter it into: 

• CSHT actions which are not specifically for organic land, such as CGS4 (herbal leys) and other actions which are not organic-specific
• COP3: Supplementary winter bird food (organic land)

You should also consider applying under SFI for organic-specific SFI actions that pay you to: 

• convert your land to organic status
• manage your organic land once it’s converted to ‘fully organic’ status

These organic-specific conversion and management actions set out which type of organic land is eligible.     

8.6 Land that includes a SSSI

You should include any SSSI on your holding in your application, unless Natural England agree you can exclude it. For example, if:

• there is no suitable action to manage the land
• it is already being managed favourably through a different funding scheme

You must get SSSI consent from Natural England before you do any of the actions on this land. 

Read section 13.3: ‘SSSI consent’ to find out how to get consent. 

8.7 Land with historic or archaeological features 

A CS Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (CS HEFER) from Historic England will identify if you have any historic or archaeological features (including scheduled monuments) on your land. It also contains advice from Historic England and local authorities that is adapted to your land about:

• priorities for managing your holding
• the best outcomes for features you can achieve

You must have an up-to-date CS HEFER covering all the land parcels on your holding before you select actions in your CSHT agreement. You cannot use a HEFER you’ve already got for an existing SFI or CS agreement.   

After the RPA has invited you to receive pre-application advice, they will ask Historic England to generate a HEFER for you. Historic England will send the HEFER to you by email approximately 20 working days after they receive the request.

The CS HEFER will tell you about:

• any known historic or archaeological features on your holding
• opportunities and recommended management for these features

If the holding you enter into CSHT contains a scheduled monument, you must include the scheduled monument in your application. Historic England will advise you where you must include suitable actions and capital items to take account of the scheduled monument. You may get approval from Historic England to exclude the scheduled monument, for example, if:

• there is no suitable action to manage the land
• it is already being managed favourably through a different funding scheme

Each action sets this out.

Historic or archaeological features include:

• non-designated historic or archaeological features (also known as ‘SHINE’ features)
• registered parks or gardens
• registered battlefields
• scheduled monuments

If land with historic or archaeological features is ineligible for a CSHT action, this only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for the CSHT action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible for the action.

You may need Scheduled Monument Consent to carry out some activities. Read section 13.1: ‘Scheduled Monument Consent’ for more information.

8.7.1 Soil sampling on eligible land with historic or archaeological features  

If a CSHT action requires soil samples, you should avoid doing this on any area of land with an historic or archaeological feature identified on your CS HEFER.

You must not take soil samples on any area of land that’s a scheduled monument, unless you have consent to do so from Historic England. Read section 13.1 to find out how to get Scheduled Monument Consent.

If you need to take soil samples on an area of land with a SHINE feature, or that’s a registered park or garden, or registered battlefield (identified on your CS HEFER), you should only:

• take enough samples to meet the requirements of the CSHT action
• sample to a depth of no more than 7.5 centimetres (cm) on permanent grassland
• sample to a depth of around 20cm to a maximum of 25cm on arable land (including temporary grassland)

8.7.2 Other activities you should avoid doing on eligible land with historic or archaeological features     

When you do your selected CSHT actions, you must not cause damage or disturbance to historic or archaeological features, such as: 

• grow deep rooted species
• allow areas of scrub to develop
• graze with free range pigs
• poach by livestock under grassland unless the ground disturbance is part of a programme of works intended to protect the historic or archaeological feature
• sub-soil or de-stone unless these operations have been carried out as part of a routine in the past 5 years
• deliberately plough more deeply or carry out additional ground works or drainage on existing cultivated areas
• remove any usable building stone, walling stone or traditional roofing material (excluding materials produced from established quarries) on the agreement land
• damage, demolish or remove building material from substantially complete ruined traditional farm buildings, historic boundaries or from boundaries of parcels

8.7.3 Metal detecting   

You are not allowed to metal detect on scheduled monuments, SSSIs and known archaeological sites on your agreement land. These are identified on your CS HEFER.

On all other agreement land, metal detecting must not conflict with the requirements of your agreement where it may affect your ability to meet the recommended management of an action. For example, doing actions that are incompatible with ground disturbance, such as actions supporting:

• ground-nesting birds
• priority habitats
• rare arable plants

Metal detecting in these areas may cause a breach of agreement and result in RPA:

• recovering money you’ve been paid
• withholding future payments, or interest payments

You should follow the Code of Practice for Responsible Metal Detecting in England and Wales (2017 to metal detect responsibly on agreement land. You must report all finds to a Find Liaison Officer.

8.7.4 Archaeological fieldwork   

Complete the minor and temporary adjustment form to request approval to carry out archaeological fieldwork (such as surveying, test pitting or excavation) on agreement land that may cause ground disturbance on known archaeological sites or other environmental assets.

You will need consent before any fieldwork can begin if you carry out any:

• archaeological fieldwork involving ground disturbance on scheduled monuments - this requires scheduled monument consent from Historic England
• geophysical survey on a scheduled monument - this requires a Section 42 licence from Historic England
• archaeological fieldwork (including the use of ground-penetrating radar or remote sensing) on SSSIs - this requires written consent from Natural England

8.8 Land designated as a European site 

A European site is designated as an:

• SAC, or proposed SAC
• SPA

All Ramsar sites and potential SPAs are treated as European sites under CSHT.

Natural England or the Forestry Commission (or both) must carry out a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) if you’re planning any activity on or next to a European site.

RPA will not approve your application if the HRA results show that your proposed activity will have an adverse effect on the European site.

Applications that include conservation of special features for which the European site was designated will usually be accepted. However, some multi-year actions or capital items may be assessed in more detail.

8.9 Land that’s conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax 

Land that’s conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax (or the object of a maintenance fund) may not be eligible for CSHT actions if they are not compatible with or duplicate an activity within the exemption. Read: ‘Eligible funding on land conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax’ for more information and to see which actions or capital items are eligible or not.     

9. Eligible land in other funding schemes

You can enter land that’s used for other funding schemes into CSHT actions in your CSHT agreement if:

• you and your land are eligible for both
• the activities you’re paid for under each scheme are compatible
• you will not be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time

If a CSHT action cannot be done on the same area of land as the other funding scheme, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel if:

• it’s an eligible land type for the action
• it’s an action you can do on part of the available area in a land parcel
• the area entered into the action does not overlap with the area used for the other funding scheme

9.1 Sustainable Farming Incentive 

You can enter land that’s in an existing SFI agreement into a CSHT agreement if it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’. 

Each CSHT action sets out which SFI actions you can do on the same area of land. Read section 3.3: ‘SFI actions’ for more information about applying for SFI and CSHT.

9.2 Countryside Stewardship

You can enter land that’s in an existing CS Mid Tier, Wildlife Offers or Higher Tier agreement into a CSHT agreement if it is for actions that are compatible with the existing agreement and there is no double funding.    

You can enter land that’s in an existing capital grants agreement into a CSHT agreement if they pay for different things.

9.3 Environmental Stewardship (ES)

You cannot enter land that’s in an existing ES Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement into CSHT actions.

9.4 Landscape Recovery

You cannot enter land that’s in a project implementation phase of a Landscape Recovery scheme project into a CSHT agreement because it is unlikely to comply with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’. You can enter other land on your holding that is not in a Landscape Recovery project.      

9.5 Farming in Protected Landscapes

Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) is a capital payment. You can enter land that’s used for FiPL funding into a CSHT agreement if it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’.   

9.6 Other government funding

You can enter land into a CSHT agreement that’s in the following schemes as long as you are not being paid twice for the same activity on the same area of land:

• England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
• Farm Woodland Payment (FWP)
• Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS)
• Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS)
• England Woodland Grant Scheme agreement
• Woodland Carbon Fund
• HS2 Woodland Fund
• Land subject to section 106 planning permission
• Capital Grants under Countryside Productivity
• Growth Programme
• LEADER
• Water Environment Grant
• Farming Recovery Fund
• Nature for Climate Fund – commitments under some NCF schemes might be included in CSHT in the future
• Farming Investment Fund
• other capital grants

9.6.1 Conservation Enhancement Scheme, Wildlife Enhancement Scheme or Section 15 Management agreements 

If you have land designated as a SSSI, you may be receiving payments under:

• Natural England’s Conservation Enhancement Scheme (CES)
• the Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (WES)
• a section 15 management agreement

Generally, you cannot have a CSHT agreement on these land parcels. This depends on the specific requirements of the CES, WES or section 15 agreement. RPA will decide on a case-by-case basis if you are eligible for CSHT payments.

9.6.2 Heritage Fund 

You can apply for some Heritage Fund projects alongside CSHT on the same land parcels where CSHT payments are for separate activities.

9.6.3 Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation Aid Scheme

You cannot get paid for CSHT actions if you are part of the Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation Aid Scheme.

9.6.4 Historic England Section 17 Management Agreements 

You can apply for CSHT actions if you have a Historic England Section 17 Management Agreement on the same scheduled monument provided:

• funding is for separate activities
• there is no double funding on the same land

9.6.5 Conservation covenants

CSHT can fund activities required by a conservation covenant, provided there is no double funding. 

9.6.6 Land subject to a Flood Defence Grant in Aid schemes agreement

CSHT can fund land that has received payments under Flood Defence Grant in Aid schemes such as the Natural Flood Management programme, provided there is no double funding.

9.6.7 Biodiversity net gain

CSHT can fund land that is used to sell biodiversity units and nutrient credits provided you are creating further habitat enhancements on top of the existing land.

You cannot sell an enhancement funded by an agri-environment scheme as a biodiversity unit or nutrient credit. Read: ‘Combining environmental payments: biodiversity net gain (BNG) and nutrient mitigation’ for more information.

9.7 Private sector schemes

You can enter land that’s used for a private sector scheme into CSHT actions if it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’.

Private sector schemes include arrangements such as carbon trading.

Defra will review its policy on the eligibility of land in private sector schemes for CSHT each year.

10. Selecting CSHT actions and capital items

You can select any number of available CSHT actions that your land (including landscape features) is eligible for. You must have Natural England, Forestry Commission or Historic England approval where required (read section 11: ‘What to do before you apply for a CSHT agreement’).  

You can also select corresponding capital items to help you do the actions.

Annex A is a summary of the CSHT actions and their payments rates that will be available when CSHT opens.

Annex B is a summary of the capital item and their payment rates that will be available when CSHT opens.  

11. What to do before you apply for a CSHT agreement    

Read section 2: ‘Working with advisers before you apply’.

11.1 Get registered with the RPA

If you and your land are not already registered with the RPA, you need to:

• register your business – to receive an Single Business Identifier (SBI) and a Customer Registration Number (CRN)
• register all the agricultural and non-agricultural land parcels you want to include in your CSHT application – these will then show on your digital maps

11.2 Check your registered contact details are up to date  

Check your registered contact details, including your business email address, are up to date in the Rural Payments service. The RPA will use these details to contact you about your CSHT application and agreement.

11.3 Check you have the correct permission to apply for CSHT  

You need the correct permission to apply for a CSHT agreement for your business (SBI). Sign in to the Rural Payments service: 

From ‘Business overview’ select ‘Give people permission to act for this business’. You need to have either: 

• ‘Business Details: Full’ permission
• ‘CS applications submit’

If you do not have either of these permissions, you need to ask someone with ‘Business Details: Full’ permission for the business to give you the correct permission.

How to give permission to someone acting on your behalf

If you want someone else to apply on your behalf, such as an agent, you need to:

• check they’re registered with the RPA in the Rural Payments service
• give them one of the required permissions to apply for a CSHT agreement

11.4 Check your registered land details are up to date

Check the registered land details on your digital maps are up to date, so they show: 

• all the land parcels you want to include in your CSHT application
• the correct total area (in ha) for each land parcel
• the correct land covers for each land parcel (such as arable land, permanent grassland, permanent crops or relevant non-agricultural cover)

If these land details are not up to date, this may prevent you from applying for the CSHT actions you select. Read the guidance on how to check your digital maps.

If you need to update your digital maps, read the guidance on:

• how to update your digital maps online
• update your maps using form RLE1 (only if you’re unable to do this online)

You do not need to check the registered hedgerows on your digital maps. These are not used in your CSHT application. 

12. How to apply online

Guidance on how to apply for CSHT will be available when the scheme opens.

13. Get all necessary regulatory consents, permissions and licences in place 

You must comply with all statutory legal requirements that apply to you and your land, even if they conflict with your CSHT agreement’s requirements. Read the guidance on ‘Rules for farmers and land managers’ for more information.

You must also get any required regulatory consents, permissions and licences before you do your selected CSHT actions.

This section covers the main ones you may need to get. However, it’s your responsibility to check if you need consent, permission or a licence and get it, if required, before you do the affected CSHT actions.

13.1 Scheduled Monument Consent

A ‘scheduled monument’ is a monument which has been scheduled for its national archaeological or historical interest. This means it’s protected by law against:

• ground disturbance
• unlicensed metal detecting

If your land has a scheduled monument, this will be identified in your CS HEFER (read section 8.7 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’).

If your selected CSHT actions require activities which will disturb the ground on land with a scheduled monument, you must get Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England. You must do this before you do the affected CSHT actions.

If you will be taking soil samples on land with a scheduled monument, you must get consent for soil sampling from Historic England. You must do this before you take soil samples.

For guidance on activities which may affect scheduled monuments, read Historic England’s ‘Scheduled monuments – a guide for owners and occupiers’.

13.2 Planning permission 

You may need planning permission if your selected CSHT actions: 

• change how you use your land from farming to something else
• will be done on land or buildings which are designated as a conservation area
• will be done on a listed building – you may also need to apply for listed building consent

It’s your responsibility to: 

• check with your local planning authority or national park authority if you need planning permission
• get planning permission, if it’s required, before you do the affected CSHT actions
• comply with any conditions in relation to that agreement, such as biodiversity net gain

Read the guidance on when planning permission is required for more information.

13.3 SSSI consent 

An SSSI is a statutory conservation designation made by Natural England. You can find out if your land is an SSSI on the MAGIC website.

If you apply for CSHT actions on land that’s an SSSI, you must give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent for the actions, unless you already have SSSI consent for the actions selected.

If you already have SSSI consent, you must check that it applies to:

• the area of land entered into the affected CSHT actions
• the activities you’ll do to complete those actions
• the duration (5, 10, 15 or 20 years) of those actions

The RPA will offer you a CSHT agreement when Natural England confirms that either:

• your notice to get SSSI consent has been received
• you already have SSSI consent

If you accept your CSHT agreement offer:

• your agreement can start before you receive SSSI consent from Natural England
• you must not do the affected CSHT actions until you receive SSSI consent – if you do, it will be a breach of your agreement

13.4 Wildlife licences for protected species

You must get an ‘individual’ wildlife licence from Natural England if the activities required by your selected CSHT actions:

• will disturb or harm protected wildlife species, or disturb or destroy their habitats, for example cleaning out a pond
• are not covered by a ‘general’ or ‘class’ wildlife licence

It’s your responsibility to check this and get a wildlife licence before you do the affected CSHT actions. 

13.5 Consent to do work on protected trees

Protected trees include:

• specific trees, groups of trees or woodland protected by a tree preservation order (TPO)
• trees growing in a conservation area

If your selected CSHT actions require you to do activities on protected trees, you must get consent from your local planning authority or national park authority. You must do this before you do the affected CSHT actions.

13.6 Felling licences to remove trees

Check if you need to apply for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission before you do CSHT actions which require activities to remove trees or woodland.

13.7 Permission to change uncultivated, semi-natural or rural land

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations protect:   

• ‘uncultivated land’ or ‘semi-natural areas’ from activities which increase agricultural productivity (known as an ‘uncultivated land project’)
• rural land holdings from restructuring activities which may have a negative environmental impact (known as a ‘restructuring project’), such as altering a field boundary or moving earth

‘Uncultivated land’ is land that has not been cultivated in the last 15 years by:

• physical means, such as ploughing and harrowing
• chemical means, such as applying fertilisers

‘Semi-natural areas’ include land that:

• is a priority habitat
• contains an historic or archaeological feature, including scheduled monuments
• is a ‘protected landscape’ – this includes national landscapes (which were known as areas of outstanding national beauty), national parks and the Broads
• contains scrub or bracken over certain thresholds – you can find these thresholds in the guidance on land types for EIA screening decisions

You must check if you need Natural England’s permission (an EIA ‘screening decision’) if your selected CSHT actions require activities which will:

• increase the productivity of 2ha or more of uncultivated land or semi-natural areas – such as ploughing, applying fertilisers, sowing seed, converting grassland to arable, and clearing scrub or vegetation
• add, remove, move or change the nature of a field boundary that’s 4 kilometres (km) or more in length (2km or more in sensitive areas, such as a national park) – this includes installing fencing to protect a habitat you’re creating
• add, remove or distribute 10,000 cubic metres or more of earth or other material over an area of 100ha or more (5,000 cubic metres or more over 50ha or more in sensitive areas)

It’s your responsibility to get an EIA screening decision from Natural England, if required, before you do the affected CSHT actions.

Agroforestry and woodland actions  

You may need a forestry EIA if your selected CSHT actions require activities that:

• convert agricultural land to woodland by planting trees or allowing natural regeneration (self-sowing) of trees which could create woodland cover
• remove woodland cover to convert the land to agricultural use or any other use

If you reach woodland thresholds, you may also need a forestry EIA for agroforestry and woodland actions. Read the Forestry Commission’s: ‘Definition of trees and woodland’ to help you decide.  

It’s your responsibility to check if you need a forestry EIA before you do the affected CSHT actions.

13.8 Permission to do work on or around a watercourse

You may need a permit or consent from the Environment Agency if your selected CSHT actions require you to:

• do work on or near a watercourse
• remove or transfer water
• carry out drainage that affects the flow of a watercourse

It is your responsibility to get permission, where required, before you do any works associated with your CSHT agreement.

If you need to complete a feasibility study before applying to CSHT, you should include the permits, consents or licences that are required to carry out the CSHT actions.

Flood risk activity permit

You must follow the environmental permitting rules if you want to do work:

• on or near a main river
• on or near a flood defence structure
• in a flood plain
• on or near a sea defence

Check if you need to apply for a flood risk activity permit (FRAP) from the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency will normally make a decision about your FRAP application within 2 to 4 months if you’ve provided all the necessary information. You should plan enough time for the Environment Agency to decide on your application before you start work.

For work on or near a watercourse that is not a main river (such as small rivers, streams and ditches), you may need an ‘ordinary watercourse consent’ from either:

• your local council
• internal drainage board

Water resource licences

You can get advice from the Environment Agency before you apply for a water resource licence. This allows you to check if you’ll be eligible for a licence and what you need to send with your application.

You can apply for a water resource licence to:

• abstract water
• create or change an inland water structure

The Environment Agency will usually make a decision within:

• 28 days for temporary licences
• 4 months for all other licence applications

You should plan enough time for the Environment Agency to decide on your application before you start work.

Abstraction licences

If you need to take water from a surface or underground source (‘abstraction’) or transfer (move) water from one source to another, check if you need to apply for an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency. Licences can be permanent or temporary. 

Abstraction includes taking water from:

• rivers
• streams
• drains
• reservoirs
• lakes
• ponds
• canals
• tidal waters and estuaries
• springs
• aquifers

Impoundment licence

If you need to build, alter or remove an ‘impoundment structure’ (an inland water structure that can temporarily or permanently change a water level or flow), check if you need to apply for an impoundment licence from the Environment Agency.

An impoundment structure includes:

• dams
• weirs
• fish passes
• hydropower turbines
• sluices
• penstocks
• culverts
• lock gates
• retaining walls
• flumes
• reservoir embankments
• temporary diversions during construction work

Waste permits or exemptions

Check if you need a permit, or to register an exemption to use, treat, store or dispose of waste. This includes sediment and plant material.

You may need a permit if your activity is covered by a regulatory position statement. For example, this may apply to treat and dispose of invasive non-native plant species.

Use of herbicides

Check if you need permission to use commercial herbicides (weed killer) to control unwanted weeds and vegetation in or near water.

Moving fish

Check if you need a licence to net or move fish as part of a river restoration project.

14. Business viability test   

RPA will carry out appropriate due diligence to assess you have the administrative, financial, and operational capacity to meet the agreement requirements. If they assess your application is not financially viable, they may not offer you an agreement.

Assessment could include:

• a check against the bankruptcy and insolvency register
• a request for a statement from a registered accountant (for example, a chartered accountant or certified accountant)

In the case of very high value grants, they could request 3 years of your relevant business accounts or other evidence for review.

15. About your CSHT agreement 

Your CSHT agreement is the legally binding agreement between you and the RPA. It comprises:

• your agreement document, which includes the adapted and agreed details about the actions and capital items you have selected – you can view this in the Rural Payments service
• the CSHT terms and conditions
• the CSHT scheme guidance

15.1 What you’re agreeing to do

When you enter a CSHT agreement, you’re agreeing to:

• complete the CSHT actions and capital items you have selected, which are specified in your agreement document
• comply with your agreement’s terms and conditions
• comply with the CSHT scheme guidance
• obtain, maintain and comply with any required permits, licences, permissions, consents, approvals, certificates and authorisations (whether statutory or otherwise)

15.2 Agreement start and end date

Your agreement will: 

• start on the first day of the calendar month after you have accepted your offer
• end on the last day of the month of the longest action in your agreement (5, 10, 15 or 20 years), unless it’s terminated earlier

Your agreement document will show the start and end dates for:

• your agreement (the ‘agreement period’)
• each CSHT action that’s in your agreement
• each capital item in your agreement

16. Contact the RPA

Email: ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk - use ‘CSHT’ in the subject header and include your SBI

Telephone: 03000 200 301 - Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm, except bank holidays

Post: PO Box 325, Worksop, S95 1DG

Annex A: list of CSHT actions and payment rates

Agroforestry

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CAGF1	Manage high density in-field agroforestry	£849 per hectare (ha)
CAGF3	Manage medium density in-field agroforestry	£595 per ha
CAGF2	Manage low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land	£385 per ha
CAGF4	Manage very low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land	£248 per ha

Boundary features

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CHRW4	Manage hedgerows	£13 per 100 metres (m) per side

Buffer strips

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CWT1	Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on improved grassland	£311 per ha
CWT2	Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	£681 per ha
CSW21	6m to 24m 3-dimensional (3D) buffer strip	£1,182 per ha

Coastal

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CCT2	Make space for new coastal habitat	£773 per ha
CCT3	Manage coastal saltmarsh and its vegetation	£724 per ha
CCT4	Create intertidal and saline habitat on arable land	£812 per ha
CCT5	Create intertidal and saline habitat by non-intervention	£494 per ha
CCT7	Create intertidal and saline habitat on intensive grassland	£494 per ha
CCT8	Manage and restore coastal sand dunes	£620 per ha
CCT9	Manage and restore coastal vegetated shingle	£583 per ha
CCT10	Manage and restore maritime cliffs and slopes	£791 per ha
CCT6	Coastal vegetation management supplement	£123 per ha

Farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CAB2	Basic overwintered stubble	£58 per ha
CAB5	Nesting plots for lapwing and stone curlew	£765 per ha
CAB6	Enhanced overwintered stubble	£589 per ha
CAB7	Whole crop cereals	£596 per ha
CAB10	Unharvested cereal headland	£1,072 per ha
CAB11	Cultivated areas for arable plants	£660 per ha
CAB12	Supplementary winter bird food	£732 per tonne
CAB14	Low input harvested cereal crops	£354 per ha
CAB16	Bumblebird mix	£747 per ha
CAB17	Winter bird food on arable and horticulture land	£853 per ha
CAB19	Pollen and nectar flower mix	£739 per ha
COP3	Supplementary winter bird food (organic land)	£935 per tonne
CWD3	Manage woodland edges on arable land	£428 per ha

Grassland

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CGS18	Manage species-rich floodplain meadows	£1,070 per ha
CGS19	Manage wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl	£547 per ha
CGS20	Manage wet grassland for breeding wader	£676 per ha
CGS21	Manage grassland for target habitats, species or feature	£528 per ha
CGS22	Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland	£646 per ha
CGS26	Manage grassland with very low inputs	£151 per ha
CSP1	Difficult site supplement	£93 per ha
CSP5	Shepherding supplement (non-moorland	£10 per ha
CSP6	Cattle grazing supplement (non-moorland)	£59 per ha
CSP7	Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly supplement	£279 per ha
CSP11	Manage scrapes and gutters supplement	£1.17 per m2
CGS16	Rush control supplement	£95 per ha
CGS23	Haymaking supplement	£157 per ha
CGS24	Haymaking supplement (late cut)	£187 per ha
CUP2	Manage rough grazing for birds	£121 per ha

Heritage

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CHS2	Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivation	£613 per ha
CHS3	Reduce cultivation depths on historic and archaeological features	£115 per ha
CHS4	Control scrub on historic and archaeological features	£215 per ha
CHS5	Manage historic and archaeological features on grassland	£55 per ha
CHS6	Maintain designed or engineered waterbodies	£2,512 per ha
CHS7	Manage historic water meadows through traditional irrigation	£863 per ha
CHS9	Restrict crop establishment depth on historic and archaeological features	£257 per ha

Integrated pest management

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CAB18	Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips (on arable land or permanent crops)	£798 per ha

Lowland heath

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CLH1	Manage lowland heathland	£412 per ha
CLH2	Restore lowland heathland	£311 per ha
CLH3	Create lowland heathland	£711 per ha
CUP18	Manage features for wildfire management (fire and fuel breaks) supplement	£137 per ha

Lowland peat

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CSW17	Raise water levels in cropped or arable peat soils to near the land surface	£1,409 per ha
CSW19	Raise water levels in cropped or arable peat soils	£892 per ha
CSW18	Raise water levels in permanent grassland peat soils to near the land surface	£1,381 per ha
CSW20	Raise water levels in permanent grassland peat soils	£840 per ha

Moorland

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CUP3	General moorland management	£55 per ha
CUP8	Moderate livestock grazing on moorland	£20 per ha
CUP9	Low livestock grazing on moorland	£53 per ha
CUP10	Limited livestock grazing on moorland	£66 per ha
CUP11	Shepherding livestock on moorland (no required stock removal period)	£33 per ha
CUP12	Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for a minimum of 4 months)	£43 per ha
CUP13	Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for a minimum of 6 months)	£45 per ha
CUP14	Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for a minimum of 8 months)	£48 per ha
CUP7	Manage non-peat moorland soils for flood and drought resilience supplement	£160 per ha
CUP15	Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 30% GLU)	£7 per ha
CUP16	Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 70% GLU) supplement	£18 per ha
CUP17	Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (100% GLU) supplement	£23 per ha

Nutrient management

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CGS25	Legumes on improved grassland	£102 per ha

Orchards

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CBE4	Manage traditional orchards	£264 per ha
CBE5	Create traditional orchards	£471 per ha

Permissive access

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CPAC1	Open access	£92 per ha
CPAC4	Footpath access	£77 per 100m
CPAC3	Bridleway and cycle route access	£158 per 100m
CPAC2	Access for people with reduced mobility	£221 per 100m
CPAC5	Upgrading Countryside and Rights of Way ‘open access land’ and public rights of way for cyclists and horse riders	£158 per 100m
CPAC6	Upgrading Countryside and Rights of Way ‘open access land’ and public rights of way for people with reduced mobility	£221 per 100m

Scrub

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CWD8	Create scrub and open habitat mosaics	£588 per ha
CWD7	Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics	£350 per ha

Soil health

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CGS4	Herbal leys	£382 per ha

Species recovery and management

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CSP9	Support for threatened species	Up to £204 per ha
CSP13	Invasive plant species control and management (lower rate)	£140 per ha
CSP14	Invasive plant species control and management (intermediate rate)	£230 per ha
CSP15	Invasive plant species control and management (upper rate)	£380 per ha
CSP20	Edible dormouse control and management	£40 per hea
CSP21	American mink control and management	£99 per 100m
CWS1	Deer control and management	£105 per ha
CWS3	Grey squirrel control and management	£60 per ha
CSP3	Bracken control supplement	£232 per ha
CSP12	Rhododendron control and management supplement	£256 per ha
CSP16	Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (50-80%)	£92 per ha
CSP17	Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)	£146 per ha
CSP18	Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%)	£7 per ha
CSP19	Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)	£11 per ha

Waterbodies

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CSW7	Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input	£489 per ha
CSW8	Manage intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse	£311 per ha
CSW12	Make room for the river to move	£1,489 per ha
CSW13	Manage grassland to reduce nutrient levels in groundwater	£396 per hae
CSW15	Flood mitigation on arable reversion to grassland	£740 per ha
CSW16	Flood mitigation on permanent grassland	£330 per ha
CSW22	Connect river and floodplain habitats	£1,242 per ha
CSW23	Manage features on arable land for flood and drought resilience and water quality	£1,241 per ha
CSW24	Manage grassland for flood and drought resilience and water quality	£938 per ha
CSW25	Manage riparian and water edge habitats	£1,186 per ha
CWT3	Manage ditches of high environmental value	£38 per 100m for both sides
CWT16	Manage lakes and bodies of water greater than 2 hectares	£109 per lake plus £135 per ha
CWT15	Manage ponds and bodies of water up to 2 hectares	£424 per pond
CSW26	Enhanced floodplain storage supplement	£366 per ha
CSW14	Nil fertiliser supplement	£156 per ha

Wetland

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CWT10	Manage lowland raised bog	£215 per ha
CWT13	Manage and restore fen, reedbed and wetland mosaics	£920 per ha
CWT14	Create fen, reedbed or wetland mosaics	£1,605 per ha
CWT12	Wetland grazing supplement	£566 per ha
CSP2	Rewetting supplement	£181 per ha

Woodland and trees

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CWD1	Woodland creation maintenance	£400 per ha
CWD2	Woodland improvement	£127 per ha
CWS2	Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) supplement	£275 per ha
CWS8	Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) supplement	£144 per ha
CWS5	Improve woodland resilience supplement	£202 per ha
CWS7	Manage historic features in woodlands supplement	£943 per ha
CWS9	Manage woodlands for flood and drought mitigation supplement	£56 per ha
CWS10	2-zone rides supplement	£60 per ha for area of ride
CWS11	3-zone rides supplement	£197 per ha for area of ride
CES6	Maintain features for wildfire management (fire belts) supplement	£861 per ha

Wood pasture

Action code	Action title	Payment rate
CWD20	Create wood pasture	£544 per ha
CWD22	Manage wood pasture and parkland	£212 per ha
CWD21	Restore wood pasture and parkland	£371 per ha

Annex B: list of available capital items and payment rates

Item code	Item title	Payment rate	2025 status
AC1	Access capital items	Up to 100% of actual costs	Updated
AC2	Countryside educational access visits accreditation	£277.26 once per agreement	Updated
AC3	Install and maintain signage – this is to stop feeding wildfowl, not access	£55.65 per sign	New
AF1	Plant an in-field agroforestry woodland tree	£5.40 per tree	Updated
AF2	Plant an in-field agroforestry fruit tree	£17.83 per tree	Updated
AF3	Supplement: Species diversity bonus	£1.16 per tree	Updated
AQ1	Automatic slurry scraper	£2,760 per channel	Updated
AQ2	Low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings	£72 per m2	Updated
BC3	Crop protection fencing mesh and wire for permanent crops	£6.34 per m	Updated
BC4	Tree Guard Post and wire	£132.16 per tree guard	Updated
BC5	Expert dam management	Up to 90% of actual costs	Updated
BN1	Stone-faced bank repair	£67.25 per m	Updated
BN2	Stone-faced bank restoration	£163.26 per m	Updated
BN3	Earth bank creation	£20.59 per m	Updated
BN4	Earth bank restoration	£10.54 per m	Updated
BN5	Hedgerow laying	£13.52 per m	Updated
BN6	Hedgerow coppicing	£5.33 per m	Updated
BN7	Hedgerow gapping-up	£17.22 per m	Updated
BN8	Hedgerow supplement - casting up	£4.39 per m	Updated
BN9	Hedgerow supplement - substantial pre-work	£7.06 per m	Updated
BN10	Hedgerow supplement - top binding and staking	£5.82 per m	Updated
BN11	Planting new hedges	£22.97 per m	Updated
BN12	Stone wall restoration	£31.91 per m	Updated
BN13	Top wiring - stone wall	£5.54 per m	Updated
BN14	Stone wall supplement - stone from quarry	£164.50 per m	Updated
BN15	Stone wall supplement - difficult sites	£15.91 per m	Updated
BN16	Repair stone walls	£16.17 per m	New
FG1	Fencing	£6.34 per m	Updated
FG2	Sheep netting	£7.47 per m	Updated
FG3	Permanent electric fencing	£5.66 per m	Updated
FG4	Rabbit fencing supplement	£5.65 per m	Updated
FG5	Fencing supplement – difficult sites	£3.98 per m	Updated
FG7	Anti-predator combination fencing	£13.76 per m	Updated
FG8	Anti-predator temporary electric fencing	£2.84 per m	Updated
FG9	Deer fencing	£10.27 per m	Updated
FG10	Temporary deer fencing	£8.09 per m	Updated
FG11	Deer exclosure plot	£212.56 per unit	Updated
FG12	Wooden field gate	£489.90 per gate	Updated
FG13	Stone gate post	£651.42 per post	Updated
FG14	Badger gate	£61.81 per gate	Updated
FG15	Water gates	£532.80 per gate	Updated
FG16	Deer pedestrian gate	£475.44 per gate	Updated
FG17	Deer vehicle gate	£749.63 per gate	Updated
FM1	Management of geodiversity features	Up to 100% of actual costs	Updated
FM2	Carry out customised capital works to manage priority specific sites or species or species, flood, drought or wildfire	Up to 100% of actual costs	Updated
FY1	Deer high seat	£265 per unit	Updated
FY2	Woodland Infrastructure	60% of actual costs (including VAT and agent’s fees, where applicable). If you are using your own labour to complete this item, we will pay 80% of the 60% value.	Updated
FY3	Squirrel traps and maintenance	80% of actual costs (including VAT and agent’s fees, where applicable). If you are using your own labour to complete this item, we will pay 80% of the 80% value.	Updated
FY4	Create 2-ride zones rides in woodland	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
FY5	Create 3-ride zones rides in woodland	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
FY6	Restore coppicing in woodland	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
FY7	Assessing woodland condition	First 30 ha £13.63 per ha (minimum payment £300). Over 30ha £4.09 per ha	New
FY8	Supplement for a freestanding deer high seat	£180 supplement for free standing seat	New
GR1	Create or restore grassland habitat	£186.02 per ha	New
GR2	Standard seed mix for grassland habitat	£203 per ha	New
GR3	Floristically enhanced seed mix for grassland habitat	£890.02 per ha	New
HE1	Historic and archaeological feature protection	Up to 100% of actual costs	Updated
HE3	Removal of eyesore	£500.47 per item	Updated
LV1	Cattle grid	£2,878.80 per item	Updated
LV2	Livestock handling facilities	Up to 80% of actual costs	Updated
LV3	Hard bases for livestock drinkers	£179.15 per base	Updated
LV4	Hard bases for livestock feeders	£290.63 per base	Updated
LV5	Pasture pumps and associated pipework	£295.90 per pump	Updated
LV6	Ram pumps and associated pipework	£1,861 per pump	Updated
LV7	Livestock troughs	£152.92 per trough	Updated
LV8	Pipework associated with livestock troughs	£3.31 per m	Updated
PA1	Implementation plan	£1,200 per plan	Updated
PA2	Feasibility study	Up to 100% of actual costs	Updated
PA3	Woodland management plan	- 3 ha to 50ha: flat rate of £1,500 - 51ha to 100ha: flat rate of £1,500 for the first 50ha, plus £30 for each additional hectare up to and including 100ha - more than 100ha: flat rate of £3,000, plus £15 for each additional hectare over 100ha	Updated
PA4	Agroforestry plan	£1,268.08 per plan	Updated
PA5	Moorland mapping	£918.08 per agreement	Updated
PA7	Species management plan	£204.79 per type of species to a maximum of £1023.95 per approved plan	New
RP1	Resurfacing of gateways	£136.95 per gateway	Updated
RP2	Gateway relocation	£369.59 per gateway	Updated
RP3	Watercourse crossings	£506.44 per crossing	Updated
RP4	Livestock and machinery hardcore tracks	£44.63 per m	Updated
RP5	Cross drains	£750.26 per drain	Updated
RP6	Installation of piped culverts in ditches	£376.23 per culvert	Updated
RP7	Sediment ponds and traps	£11.88 per m2	Updated
RP8	Constructed wetlands for the treatment of pollution	50% of actual costs	Updated
RP9	Earth banks and soil bunds	£195.61 for each unit (100m of bund)	Updated
RP10	Silt filtration dams/ or seepage barriers	£198.14 per unit	Updated
RP11	Swales	£7.52 per m2	Updated
RP12	Check dams	£85.29 for each dam	Updated
RP13	Yard - underground drainage pipework	£2.02 per m	Updated
RP14	Yard inspection pit	£200 per unit	Updated
RP15	Concrete yard renewal	£33.64 per m2	Updated
RP16	Rainwater goods	£11.55 per m	Updated
RP17	Storage tanks underground	£441.98 per cubic metre	Updated
RP18	Above ground tanks	£73.34 per cubic metre	Updated
RP19	First flush rainwater diverters and downpipe filters	£174.59 per unit	Updated
RP20	Relocation of sheep dips and pens	£3,544.71 per unit	Updated
RP21	Relocation of sheep pens only	£1,772.35 per unit	Updated
RP22	Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps	£19.50 per m2	Updated
RP23	Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep)	£152.92 per unit	Updated
RP24	Lined biobed plus pesticide loading and washdown area	£119.77 per m2	Updated
RP25	Lined biobed with existing washdown area	£66.24 per m2	Updated
RP26	Biofilters	£2026.14 per unit	Updated
RP27	Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area	£35.86 per m2	Updated
RP28	Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores)	£72.50 per m2	Updated
RP29	Self-supporting covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores	£29.50 per m2	Updated
RP30	Floating covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores and lagoons	£2.75 per m2	Updated
RP31	Equipment to disrupt tramlines in arable areas	£1,500 per machine	Updated
RP32	Small leaky wooden y dams	£461.39 for each dam	Updated
RP33	Large leaky wooden y dams	£764.24 for each dam	Updated
SB1	Scrub control and felling diseased trees	Between £375 and £2,424.20 per ha	Updated
SB2	Scrub control on - difficult sites	Up to 80% of actual costs	Updated
SB3	Tree removal	£155.17 per tree	Updated
SB4	Chemical bracken control	£270.90 per ha	Updated
SB5	Mechanical bracken control	£190.90 per ha	Updated
SB6	Rhododendron control	Between £,500- £5,500 per ha	Updated
SM1	Training to control and manage deer	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
SM2	Training to control and manage American mink	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
SM3	Training to control and manage non-native plants	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
SM4	Traps for American mink	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
SM5	Traps for edible dormouse	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
SM6	Use monitoring equipment to manage invasive species	Up to 100% of actual costs	New
TE1	Planting standard hedgerow tree	£19.06 per tree	Updated
TE2	Planting standard parkland tree	£123.94 per tree	Updated
TE3	Planting fruit trees	£28.07 per tree.	Updated
TE4	Supply and plant a tree	£1.72 per tree	Updated
TE5	Supplement for use of individual tree-shelters	£2.43 per unit	Updated
TE6	Tree guard (tube and mesh)	£3.95 per guard	Updated
TE7	Tree guard (wood post and rail)	£109.64 per guard	Updated
TE8	Tree guard (wood post and wire)	£132.16 per guard	Updated
TE9	Parkland tree guard - welded steel	£402.73 per tree	Updated
TE10	Coppicing bankside trees	£53.95 per tree	Updated
TE11	Tree surgery	- £73.36 per tree when cutting limbs up to and including 20cm in diameter - £146.72 per tree when cutting limbs over 20cm in diameter.	Updated
TE12	Stump grinding	-	Updated
TE13	Creation of dead wood habitat on trees	£285.58 per tree	Updated
TE14	Identification of orchard fruit tree varieties	£20 per variety.	Updated
TE15	Plant groups of trees in large guards	£572.78 per large guard	New
TE16	Use tree surgery to ‘hinge’ a tree or limb into a watercourse	£95.26 per tree	New
TE17	Tree surgery for veteran trees	£488 per tree	New
TE18	Supplement: Pruning to restore fruit trees	£146 per tree	New
VED1	Educational access visits	£363 per visit	New
WB1	Small wildlife box	£11.95 per box.	Updated
WB2	Medium wildlife box	£27.91 per box.	Updated
WB3	Large wildlife box	£38.28 per box.	Updated
WF1	Create a wildfire checklist	£327.12 per farm	New
WN1	Grip blocking drainage channels	£19.06 per block	Updated
WN2	Creation of scrapes and gutters	£5.64 per m2	Updated
WN3	Ditch, dyke and rhine restoration	£5.72 per m	Updated
WN4	Ditch, dyke and rhine creation	£13.63 per m	Updated
WN7	Restoration of large water bodies	Up to 100% of actual costs	Updated
WN8	Timber sluice	£451.50 per sluice	Updated
WN9	Brick, stone or concrete sluice	£2,901.40 per sluice	Updated
WN10	Construction of water penning structures	Up to 100% of actual costs	Updated
WN11	Install temporary water storage features	£7.36 per m2	New
WN12	Create or restore ponds	£1879.46 per pond	New
WN13	Supplement: Manage wetland cutting	£1,346 per ha	New

Annex C: Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing

You must enter common land (including shared grazing) into a separate CSHT agreement. 

If you want to apply for CSHT on land that is not common land, you can enter that into a separate CSHT agreement. 

1. How common land is defined 

For CSHT, common land is defined as:  

• land registered as common land in a register of common land kept under Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006 (given in schedule 5)
• land to which Part 1 of that Act does not apply and which is subject to rights of common within the meaning of that Act  

‘Shared grazing’ means communal pasture that is not registered as common land where graziers have a legal entitlement to graze. For example, a pasture used jointly by tenants.  

Any reference to common land in this section includes shared grazing.  

2. Common land you can enter into CSHT 

You can enter an area of common land into a CSHT agreement if: 

• it’s wholly located in England 

• it’s eligible for the CS HT actions you choose 

• there is sufficient management control of the common land for the duration of the CSHT agreement – read section 4 of this annex: ‘Management control of common land’ to explain what this means 

A CSHT agreement on common land can include: 

• a whole common 
• more than a whole common, if the areas are managed as a single unit 
• part of a common, if it’s a defined area that’s managed as a separate, single unit and the actions in the CSHT agreement will not affect any land management practices on the rest of the common 

If the common is in an existing CS, SFI or HLS agreement, you can enter the same land into an CSHT agreement if: 

• the land is eligible for both 
• the activities being paid for under each scheme are compatible
• you will not be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time (known as ‘double funding’)  

Check you’re eligible to enter common land into a CSHT agreement 

You must be a ‘single entity’. This means you’re:  

• a person who is the sole beneficiary - usually a landowner who owns the whole common and has sole use and rights to the common  
• a group of 2 or more people  

If the single entity is a group, it must have a formal internal arrangement between the members that sets out:  

• each person’s responsibilities 
• how to distribute payments across the group
• that each person agrees that RPA or Defra may recover payments from them personally if there’s a breach of the CSHT agreement  
• how to resolve disputes 

It must also have: 

• a main business contact (the nominated representative) with the RPA who is responsible for administering the CSHT agreement on behalf of the group
• a single bank account registered with the RPA  

You must provide evidence of your formal internal arrangement before your agreement can start.  

3. Management control of common land 

To enter common land into a CSHT agreement, the single entity must have sufficient management control of the land: 

• for the duration of the CSHT agreement
• to complete the CSHT actions chosen 

This means: 

• the group must take all reasonable steps to contact and consult everyone with a legal interest in the management of the common land 
• those commoners in the group must complete the CSHT actions in their group agreement 
• the group must assess if they need the landowner’s consent to complete actions and get consent if required 

4. Role of the single entity 

The single entity must take reasonable steps to consult with anyone with a legal interest in managing the common land before applying for a CSHT agreement to make sure they: 

• are aware of the group’s intention to enter the common land into a CSHT agreement 
• have the chance to join the group if they want to 

The people with a legal interest in managing the common land include: 

• all known common rights holders, whether they’re actively using their rights or not
• the landowner 
• tenants 

anyone who has an easement or other rights and covenants over the land, such as sporting tenants 

5. Applying as a single entity  

A single entity may already be set up and have: 

• an existing CS or Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement on the common
• sufficient management control of the common 

In this case, it should be possible to extend the group’s scope to apply for a CSHT or SFI agreement on the common land. The group should use the same single business identifier (SBI) number. There cannot be more than one single entity overseeing CS, HLS or SFI agreements on the same common land. 

6. Setting up a new single entity 

A single entity must register on the Rural Payments service to get an SBI number for the group. Individuals may already have their own SBI, but the single entity must use the group SBI to apply for a CSHT agreement. 

A new single entity should consider: 

• if the nominated representative has permission to use the Rural Payments service 
• if permissions will extend to other group members 
• how the group will deal with management changes 

The nominated representative must send a copy of the group’s internal agreement to RPA before a CSHT agreement can start. 

RPA hold the internal agreement as a formal record, they do not: 

• help with drafting the details 
• check or assure the agreement or the constitution of the group 
• resolve any disputes 

7. Common land payment for group agreements  

There is a payment of £7 per hectare per year for a group application on common land or shared grazing in a CSHT agreement. This is to help with administration costs of managing the CSHT agreement. This is in addition to payment rates for completing CSHT actions. 

If you have an SFI and CSHT agreement on the land, you will receive the additional common land payment for both your SFI and CSHT agreement. 

Defra will keep this payment under review.

Annex D: Applying for woodland improvement and agroforestry actions

You can apply for CSHT action CWD2: Woodland improvement and associated woodland supplements to support the sustainable management of woodland in line with the UK Forestry Standard. You can also use other species actions, access actions and capital items to support your woodland management objectives. 

When you need a woodland management plan (WMP) 

You must have a Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan (WMP) and associated felling licence covering all the woodland in your CSHT application. Your WMP must support the management objectives in your CSHT woodland improvement application. 

You must have an approved WMP for the duration of your CSHT agreement.  

If your WMP ends before your CSHT agreement, you will need to produce a new WMP for the remaining time. You will need Forestry Commission approval for a new WMP. 

You can fund producing a WMP yourself or choose to apply for a capital grant to help pay for producing it. Read the guidance on how to apply for a WMP grant and fill in the PA3: WMP form. 

Other plans you may need to support your CSHT application 

Species management plan 

You may need to complete a species management plan if you intend to apply for species management actions in CSHT. These will need to be approved before you can apply for CSHT. 

You can apply for a capital grant to pay for a species management plan. Read the guidance on how to apply for PA7: Species management plan and fill in the relevant species PA7 form.

Feasibility study 

You will need to provide a feasibility study for the flood and drought, and rewetting supplements to demonstrate the application site has potential to provide suitable hydrology to deliver the intended environmental outcomes. 

You can apply for a capital grant to pay for this. Read the guidance on how to apply for PA2: Feasibility study before you fill in the application form. 

How to amend an existing WMP 

Your existing WMP may not support your CSHT application because it does not:  

• accurately reflect the current woodland management objectives 
• address the current constraints and threats affecting woodland management  
• comply with the current UKFS standard 
• reflect new actions and supplements available 

You may be able to amend your existing WMP. Read Section 8 of the Creating a woodland management plan guidance. 

Eligible area and value thresholds for CSHT 

To be eligible for CSHT, the total area of woodland in your application must be at least 0.5ha. The total area for the application can be made up of separate blocks of woodland but the minimum block size must be 0.5ha. If you are making a mixed application for both agri-environment and woodland actions, the 0.5ha minimum woodland block size still applies.   

Your land parcels must be registered with an eligible land use code if you apply for CSHT woodland improvement.   

Woodland improvement action and supporting woodland supplements  

CWD2: Woodland improvement  

• Annual payment: £127 per ha – or a minimum payment of £500 
• Action duration: 10 years 

CWD2 is an amended version of CSHT action WD2. 

Changes include: 

• reducing the minimum application size to 0.5ha 
• increasing the agreement length to 10 years 

CWS2: Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) supplement 

• Annual payment: £275 per ha 
• Duration: 10 years 

This supplement supports the restoration and management of plantations on ancient woodland (PAWS).  

CWS2 is an amended version of the CSHT woodland supplement WS2: Plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) - restoration and maintenance 

You must use this supplement with CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as: 

• supplement CWS8: Manage native woodland including Ancient Semi-Natural Woodlands 
• supplement CWS5: Improve woodland resilience  

CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands supplement 

• Annual payment: £144 per ha 
• Duration: 10 years 

This supplement supports the management of native woodland including ancient and semi-natural woodlands. You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. 

You cannot use it on the same area as:  

• CSW2: Manage and restore PAWS supplement 
• CSW5: Improve woodland resilience supplement  

CWS5: Improve woodland resilience supplement  

• Annual payment: £202 per ha 
• Duration: 10 years 

This is a new supplement that supports management activities to increase: 

• the mixture of tree species
• structural diversity in woodlands
• resilience to current and future threats arising from climate change 

You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as:  

• CWS2: Manage and restore PAWS supplement 
• CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands  

CWS10: Manage 2-zone rides supplement  

• Annual payment: £60 per ha
• Duration: 10 years 

This new supplement supports the management of 2-zone rides in woodland to maintain a diverse ride structure and provide habitat corridors for wildlife. You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as CWS11: Manage 3-zone rides supplement. 

CWS11: Manage 3-zone rides supplement  

• Annual payment: £197 per ha
• Duration: 10 years 

This new supplement supports the management of 3-zone rides in woodland to maintain a diverse ride structure and provide habitat corridors for wildlife. You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as CWS11: Manage 2-zone rides supplement. 

Species management actions and supplements you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

CWS1: Deer control and management  

• Annual payment: £105 per ha 
• Duration: 10 years 

This action supports the management of deer where they are causing harm to priority species and habitats. 

This is an updated action of the CSHT woodland supplement WS1: Deer control and management. You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CWS3: Grey squirrel control and management  

• Annual payment: £60 per ha
• Duration: 10 years 

This action supports the management and reduction of the impact of invasive non-native grey squirrels. It is an amended version of the CSHT woodland supplement WS3. You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CSP9: Threatened species supplement  

• Annual payment: £204 per ha 
• Duration: 5 years 

This supplement’s aim is to create and maintain specific habitats for priority species, so that they can grow successfully to increase their population.  

Invasive plant species control and management 

CSP13: Invasive plant species control and management (lower rate)  CSP14: Invasive plant species control and management (medium rate) CSP15: Invasive plant species control and management (upper rate) 

Annual payments:  

• lower rate: £140 per hectare 
• medium rate: £230 per hectare 
• upper rate: £380 per hectare 

Duration: 5 years 

These actions support the control of invasive non-native plant species that are harmful to the environment.  

CSP20: Edible dormouse control and management 

• Annual payment: £40 per ha
• Duration: 10 years 

This new action supports the control and management of invasive edible dormice that: 

• cause damage to trees and orchards by stripping bark
• compete with hole-nesting birds for nest sites 
• prey on eggs and nesting birds 

You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CSP21: Mink control and management 

• Annual payment: £99 per 100m
• Duration: 10 years 

This new action supports the control and management of invasive non-native American mink where there is evidence, of predation on species, such as: 

• ground nesting birds
• domestic wildfowl 
• amphibians
• fish  

You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CSP3: Bracken control supplement  

• Annual payment: £232 per ha
• Duration: same as base action 

This updated supplement supports control and management of bracken. This includes: 

• controlling the spread of existing dense stands of bracken 
• removing the stands to allow underlying vegetation to develop and spread 

You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CSP12: Rhododendron control and management supplement  

• Annual payment: £256 per ha
• Duration: 5 years 

This new supplement supports the control and management of rhododendron by removing it or stopping it from spreading or re-establishing.  

You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

Access actions you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

The aim of access actions with woodland improvement is to provide open access, new and improved footpaths and bridleways to:  

• create more opportunities for public access to woods
• create educational opportunities so people can understand woodlands better
• provide outdoor activities to improve physical and mental wellbeing
• encourage people’s engagement with nature 

Access actions you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement:

• CPAC1: Open access
• CPAC2: Access for people with reduced mobility
• CPAC3: Bridleway or cycle route access
• CPAC4: Footpath access  
• CPAC5: Upgrading Countryside and Rights of Way ‘open access land’ and public rights of way for cyclists and horse riders 
• CPAC6: Upgrading Countryside and Rights of Way ‘open access land’ and public rights of way for people with reduced mobility  

Heritage actions and supplements you can use with CWD2 

CWS7: Manage historic features in woodlands supplement  

• Annual payment: £943 per ha (based on the footprint of the feature) 
• Duration: 10 years 

This new supplement supports the management of historic features in woodlands, especially scheduled monuments.  

CHS6: Maintain designed or engineered waterbodies 

• Annual payment: £2,512 per ha per year 
• Duration: 5 years 

Water actions and supplements you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

CSP2: Rewetting supplement 

• Annual payment: £181 per ha per year 
• Duration: same as base action 

This supplement supports actions to reverse artificial drainage and restore natural hydrological conditions to enhance or restore wet woodland habitat. 

CSW22: Connect river and floodplain habitats supplement 

• Annual payment: £1,242 per ha per year
• Duration: 10 years 

This supplement supports actions to improve the connection between the river (stream channel) and the floodplain to encourage out-of-bank flows during a flood event.  

This is an ambitious action that will encourage natural processes to deliver dynamic vegetation change on the floodplain creating a varied mosaic of wetland habitats including wet woodland.  

CWS9: Manage woodland for flood and drought mitigation supplement 

• Annual payment: £56 per ha
• Duration: 10 years 

This new supplement supports the management of water flow in woodland to retain water on site through enhanced soil infiltration and within constructed water features. You must use this supplement with action CWD2: Woodland improvement. 

Agroforestry actions 

CSHT actions to support the maintenance of agroforestry based on the sensitivity of the land.  

When you need an agroforestry plan 

 You must have an agroforestry plan approved by the Forestry Commission if you are applying for CSHT Agroforestry actions. The plan must include all the agroforestry trees in your application. It will help you set out what you need to do when creating or managing your agroforestry system. 

You can apply for capital grant PA4: Agroforestry plan to help pay for your plan. 

CSHT actions available for agroforestry   

The aim of these actions is to help you manage your agroforestry system at an agreed density, spacing, and arrangement of trees, as identified in your PA4: Agroforestry plan. They are all 10-year actions. 

To be eligible for these actions, your in-field agroforestry system must contain established trees at any stage of maturity, including newly planted saplings if they’ll be left to become mature trees. You must grow fruit trees on semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstocks, which usually produce trees at least 4m tall.   

For agroforestry systems with a density between: 

• 251 and 400 trees per hectare, use action CAGF1: Maintain high density in-field agroforestry
• 51 and 130 trees per hectare, use action CAGF2: Maintain low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land
• 131 and 250 trees per hectare, use action CAGF3: Maintain medium density in-field agroforestry 
• 30 and 50 trees per hectare, use action CAGF4: Maintain very low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land  

Capital items 

You can apply for some capital items to support woodland improvement.  

Capital items you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement or as standalone items 

• AC1: Access capital items 
• BN12: Stone wall restoration
• BN13: Top wiring – stone wall
• BN14: Stone wall supplement – stone from quarry 
• FG1: Fencing
• FG2: Sheep netting 
• FG9: Deer fencing 
• FG10: Temporary deer fencing 
• FG11: Deer exclosure plot 
• FG16: Deer pedestrian gate 
• FG17: Deer vehicle gate 
• FY1: Deer high seat 
• FY2: Woodland infrastructure 
• FY7: Woodland condition assessment 
• RP32: Small leaky woody dam (1m to 2.99m) 
• RP33: Large leaky woody dam (3m to 5m) 
• SB1: Scrub control and felling diseased trees 
• SB2: Scrub control – difficult sites 
• SB6: Rhododendron control 
• TE10: Coppicing bankside trees 
• TE11: Tree surgery 
• TE12: Stump grinding 
• TE16: Tree hinging 
• TE17: Veteran tree surgery 

Capital items you can only use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

• VED1: Educational access 
• FY4: 2-zone ride creation 
• FY5: 3-zone ride creation 
• FY6: Coppicing 
• HE1: Historic and archaeological feature protection 
• HE3: Removal of eyesore 
• RP3: Watercourse crossings 
• RP5: Cross drains 
• RP6: Installation of piped culverts in ditches 
• RP9: Earth banks and soil bunds 
• SB4: Chemical bracken control 
• SB5: Mechanical bracken control 
• WB1: Small wildlife box 
• WB2: Medium wildlife box 
• WB3: Large wildlife box 
• WN1: Grip blocking and drainage channel 
• WN2: Creation of scrapes and gutters 
• WN3: Ditch, dyke and Rhine restoration 
• WN4: Ditch, dyke and Rhine creation 
• WN5: Pond management 
• WN8: Timber sluice 
• WN9: Brick, stone and concrete sluice 
• WN10: Construction of water penning structures 

Supplementary capital items you can only use with other capital items 

• AC2: Countryside educational access 
• FG4: Rabbit fencing supplement 
• FG5: Fencing supplement – difficult sites 
• FG12: Wooden field gate 
• FG14: Badger gate 
• FG15: Water gates 
• FY8: Supplement to Deer High Seat 

You can apply for multi-year and capital woodland improvement actions and items on the same land if they are compatible and not being used to fund the same work. 

You can apply for some of these capital items as standalone grants  

Supplementary capital items you can only use with other revenue supplements 

• FY3: Squirrel traps and maintenance 
• SM1: Training to control and manage deer 
• SM2: Training to control and manage American mink 
• SM3: Training to control and manage non-native plants 
• SM4: Traps for American mink 
• SM5: Traps for edible dormouse 
• SM6: Use monitoring equipment to manage invasive species 

You should check the requirement details for all capital items on the grant finder (when available).  

Agreement maps 

You must produce an agreement map for every CSHT woodland improvement application.  

You can create your own agreement map using GIS software or you can request a map from the Forestry Commission using their map request form. 

You must create 2 copies. You must show your actions on one copy and show the environmental features on your holding on the other copy.  

If you use the Forestry Commission map request form, you can highlight any existing Environmental Stewardship agreements on the land parcels you want included in a CSHT agreement. The Forestry Commission will discuss what you’re eligible to apply for if you provide this information. We will carry out more detailed eligibility checks throughout the application process. 

The woodland action CWD2 is only available for established woodland. To make sure this requirement is met land must be both: 

• fully established – your woodland officer will check this during their site visit, we expect trees in newly planted woodland to be at least 15 years old to qualify 

• no longer receiving either Farm Woodland Payments, Farm Woodland Premium Scheme or Farm Woodland Scheme 

In established woodland, if there is a live multi-annual England Woodland Grant Scheme agreement on the land, you should speak to your Forestry Commission woodland officer to confirm whether the land is eligible to be included in your application. 

When we receive your application, we will check if the land included in your application is eligible. 

Minimum mapping standards for your agreement maps 

Your agreement maps must meet the minimum mapping standards. 

You must submit high quality, colour maps  

On your map, you’ll need to: 

• make sure it has a clear key, including areas of CWD2 and capital items 
• make sure that your land parcel numbers are clearly shown 
• mark up using black ink  
• write the 6-figure Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the centre of the map on the bottom left of the map if there are no numbered OF grid lines 
• clearly show the scale of the map 

You must: 

• colour in the proposed area of CWD2 
• show the location of additional actions and supplements 
• mark the locations of capital items using a coloured pen 
• mark fence lines and label the fence code you are applying for 
• mark the specific locations where you’ll carry out work, such as, ride management or coppice management 
• specify the work, for example, mowing 2 or 3-zone rides 

Your map can show a mixture of information but must be clear and easy to read. If there is too much information, use an additional map (or more if required). You must include all of the CWD2 elements on the map that are included in your application. 

For example: 

• ride creation or management – show where each type of ride will be created 
• open space creation and management – mark up new areas clearly 
• veteran trees identification and management – plot the location of trees and the management you’ll carry out 
• areas of thinning or regeneration felling – show where you will fell trees 

Write on the top right corner of each map: 

• your SBI 
• the business name (this is the name registered with the SBI in the Rural Payments service) 
• application name and date 

Cross though any mistakes and do not use correction fluid. 

You will be responsible for providing updated maps following any agreed changes to the proposed annual or capital items. 

When you submit your annotated map(s), it is your responsibility to make sure that areas marked on the maps are accurate and agree with the details of your application. We will identify any mapping discrepancies through our environmental outcome site visits and checks. 

Woodland maintenance payments  

CWD1: Woodland maintenance payment is a CSHT action to support the maintenance of newly created woodland resulting from a CS Woodland Creation Grant agreement.  

You must have completed tree planting under your Countryside Stewardship Woodland Creation grant before you can carry out this action. You will be invited to apply for the 10 year CS Woodland Creation Maintenance agreement (CWD1) when the capital works are complete.  

CWD1 is a multi-year action with a duration of 15 years.  

You can still apply to create woodland through the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). Annual maintenance payments for EWCO are available.  See the EWCO Grant Manual for further details.