This is a Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) action. Read the SFI26 scheme information to understand what you’re required to do under an SFI26 agreement and how to apply.
\n\nSelect ‘See all updates’ at the start of this page to find out how this action has changed for SFI26 compared with SFI24.
\n\nFor SFI24 actions, read the SFI24 agreement holder’s information.
\n3 years
\n\n£742 per hectare (ha) per year – calculate the hectarage by:
\n\nmeasuring the length of the strip in metres (m)
\nmultiplying that length by the relevant width (6m to 12m) to give the area in m2
\ndividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha
\nThis action’s aim is that, throughout the year, there’s a habitat strip next to a watercourse:
\n\nwith a mosaic of grassland vegetation and naturally colonised or planted native tree and scrub species, which are near the watercourse (riparian) and have an open canopy
\nwith tussocky grasses allowed to develop
\nwithout livestock, tracks or compacted areas
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nreduce soil erosion and nutrient loss
\nincrease water filtration
\nslow down water runoff
\nprovide shade to the watercourse
\nprovide habitats and food for wildlife
\nform links between other habitats
\nYou can do this action on agricultural land next to a watercourse (ditch, river, stream or canal) located below the moorland line that’s:
\n\nan eligible land type (as defined in section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’ in the SFI26 scheme information)
\nregistered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
\ndeclared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover
\n| Eligible land type | \nEligible land cover | \nCompatible land use code | \n\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arable land used to grow crops | \nArable land | \nLand use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops\n | \n\n |
| Temporary grassland | \nArable land | \nTG01 | \n\n |
| Arable land lying fallow | \nArable land | \nFA01 | \n\n |
| Improved permanent grassland | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \n\n |
| Scrub | \nScrub – ungrazeable | \nWO25 | \n\n |
| Scrub | \nNotional – scrub | \nNF03 | \n\n |
Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:
\n\ngive notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) offer you an SFI26 agreement
\nhave received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (read section 10.1 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details)
\nHistoric and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area with an historic or archaeological feature into this action. This only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for this action on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible.
\n\nTotal or part of the available area in a land parcel. It’s your responsibility to check that the area you enter is eligible for this action.
\n\nYou must do this action on the area entered into your SFI26 agreement. If something happens which means you cannot complete this action on some or all of the area, you must tell the RPA in writing as soon as possible. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this.
\n\nThis action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
\n\nYou must establish and maintain a habitat strip that:
\n\nis at least 6m wide and up to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 12m wide, but you’ll only be paid for the 12m width
\nbuffers a ditch, river, stream or canal
\nTo establish the habitat strip, you must do one or a combination of both of the following:
\n\nallow trees and scrub to regenerate naturally
\nplant a variety of native riparian tree and shrub species
\nYou can remove soil compaction to prepare land for this action (if needed).
\n\nOnce the habitat strip is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes:
\n\ncutting woody growth to create and maintain an open canopy along the bank so there’s dappled shade for the watercourse
\ncontrolling the spread of injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species
\nremoving cut material (when you’re cutting) to control woody growth or the spread of injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species
\nleaving any standing and fallen deadwood in place, if it’s safe to do so
\nleaving any mature and veteran trees in place, if it’s safe to do so
\nYou must not do the following on the habitat strip:
\n\nallow livestock to access it
\nuse it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
\napply fertilisers or manures
\napply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
\ncreate or maintain hard standing, boardwalks or closely mown access routes running parallel to the ditch, river, stream or canal
\nIn addition, you must not cut or remove vegetation unless you’re doing it to:
\n\ncontrol woody growth or the spread of injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species
\nmaintain existing access routes that are at an angle of 90 degrees to the watercourse
\nhelp establish the habitat strip on previously arable land
\nYou can maintain an existing habitat strip to get paid for this action if it:
\n\nmeets this action’s requirements
\nis not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW11 (riparian management strip)
\nYou must:
\n\nIt’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
\n\nYou may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nYou must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:
\n\nfield operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices
\nphotographs and other documentation
\nIf it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.
\n\nYou can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.
\n\n| Scheme | \nAction or option codes | \n\n |
|---|---|---|
| \nSFI 2026 actions | \nOFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nCIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIPM1, NUM1, SAM1 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCPAC1, CSP9 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nOR1, OT1, SW15, SW16 | \n\n |
| \nES options | \nNo ES revenue options | \n\n |
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.
\n\nYou can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:
\n\nThe following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nTo establish the habitat strip, you can:
\n\nTo help initial establishment, you may need to control injurious weeds, nettles or invasive non-native species more often over the first few years.
\n\nCheck:
\n\nOnce the habitat strip is established, this action requires you to manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nYou can manage the habitat strip in stages to minimise disturbance and create varied habitat.
\n\nWhere existing trees form a continuous line along the bank or bank top causing dark shade to the watercourse, you can:
\n\nTo prevent livestock access to the habitat strip during the grazing season, you can use temporary high tensile wire or electric fencing (without the need for a permit). This type of fencing can help to reduce the risk of debris snagging and the fence being damaged if the watercourse floods.
\n\nYou can maintain existing fishing access to the watercourse (usually 2m x 2m swims on the bank top). Try to avoid creating areas of bare soil on the bank top by maintaining a grass sward.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:09:54Z"},{"note":"The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):\r\n\r\n•\tthis action now has a 3-year duration – this only applies to SFI26 agreements, not existing SFI24 agreements\r\n•\tminor updates to standard wording which appears in all area-based SFI actions – see ‘Eligibility of protected land’ and ‘Available area you can enter into this action’\r\n","public_timestamp":"2026-06-02T13:05:59Z"},{"note":"PRF2 removed from SFI 2024 actions.","public_timestamp":"2024-08-13T13:22:17Z"},{"note":"Where you can do this action - an eligible land type is defined in section 5.1 ‘Eligible land types for SFI’ in the SFI scheme information. \r\nEligible land - scrub is an eligible land type. \r\nEligibility of protected land - updated link to section 10.3 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI scheme information. You can apply for this action on the area in a land parcel that does not contain an historic or archaeological feature. \r\nWhat to do - storing bales or machinery added as an example of ‘storage’. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. 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