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£739 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there’s an established pollen and nectar flower mix which:
\n\nis growing in blocks or strips
\nproduces areas of flowering plants from late spring and during the summer months
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nprovide food for beneficial pollinators, such as bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies and hoverflies
\nencourage natural crop pest predators as part of an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas
\nYou can do this action on agricultural land 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
|---|---|---|
| Arable land used to grow crops | \nArable land | \nLand use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops\n | \n
| Temporary grassland | \nArable land | \nTG01 | \n
| Arable land lying fallow | \nArable land | \nFA01 | \n
| Permanent crops – horticultural and non-horticultural | \nPermanent crops | \nTC01 | \n
This is a ‘limited area’ action. The total eligible area you enter into any combination of one or more of the ‘limited area’ actions must not be more than 25% of the total agricultural area of your farm. Read section 4.5 ‘Limited area SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details (including a list of ‘limited area’ actions).
\n\nSites 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: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.3 ’Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).
\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 rotational or static. This means you can either:
\n\nmove its location for the second and third years of this action’s duration
\ndo it at the same location each year of this action’s duration
\nYou must establish a nectar flower mix as a block or strip on land entered into this action.
\n\nYou must use a grass-free seed mix which includes at least 6 flower species, with no individual species being more than 50% of the total mix by weight.
\n\nThe seed mix must include at least 2 of the following flower species:
\n\ncommon knapweed
\nmusk mallow
\noxeye daisy
\nwild carrot
\nyarrow
\nOnce the pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip is established (usually from the second spring after sowing), you must maintain it. To do this, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nYou must not do the following on the established pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip:
\n\ncut or graze it with livestock in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be expected to be achieved
\nuse it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)
\napply any fertilisers and manures
\napply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
\nYou can maintain an existing pollen and nectar flower mix block or 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 AB1 (nectar flower mix)
\nYou must:
\n\nestablish the pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip between early spring and early autumn, within 12 months of this action’s start date
\nmaintain the mix at the same location for a period of time that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim – this will usually be until the end of the second summer after sowing
\nafter this period of time, re-establish the pollen and nectar flower mix block or strip between early spring and early autumn (either at the same location or a different location) and maintain it until this action’s end date
\nIt’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
\n\nfollow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
\ndo the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
\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, including details of the seed mix used
\nphotographs or 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
|---|---|
| \nSFI 2026 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1 | \n
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nAGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC3, OFC4, OFC5, OFM4, OFM5, OFM6, PRF2, SOH1 | \n
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIPM1, NUM1, SAM1 | \n
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3 | \n
| \nCS options | \nOR3, OR4, OR5, OT3, OT4, OT5 | \n
| \nES options | \nNo ES revenue options | \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\nThis action explains the minimum requirement for flower species in the seed mix (under ‘What to do’).
\n\nTo help you achieve this action’s aim, you can use a seed mix containing shorter-living legumes and longer-living wildflower species.
\n\nYou can choose to sow a seed mix containing more flower species than this action requires. Using an enhanced mix can be beneficial as it retains more flower species for longer and is likely to mean less frequent re-sowing. It can also help to provide a more varied mix of flowers for beneficial insects.
\n\nA seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.
\n\nWhen you establish the pollen and nectar flower mix, by law you cannot cultivate or apply fertilisers or pesticides to land within 2m of the centre of a hedgerow. Read the guidance on Hedgerow management rules; buffer strips to understand how these rules apply to you.
\n\nIt will usually help if you sow the pollen and nectar flower mix block or strips on sites that:
\n\nYou can choose to locate the pollen and nectar flower mix blocks or strips on areas:
\n\nTo provide a buffer zone for beneficial insects when fields are being sprayed, you can use:
\n\nTo help beneficial insects (such as pollinators and crop pest predators) find food, you can have a number of blocks or strips spaced as evenly as possible across your land. For example, you could space 5 blocks or strips of 0.5ha evenly across 100ha.
\n\nYour seed supplier can advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose. This will usually be between 10kg (for light and medium soils, and land with limited fertility) and 20kg (for heavy soils and areas with a higher nutrient status).
\n\nYou can help seeds germinate if you sow into a seedbed that’s:
\n\nIf you sow in the autumn, try to sow before frosts and prolonged wet weather. You can get advice from the seed supplier on frost hardy annuals you could use in your seed mix.
\n\nBefore you sow each block or strip, it will help if you mix the seed well. You can either:
\n\nIf your seed mix contains larger seeds (such as common vetch and sainfoin), you could sow these first to a depth of 2cm and then sow the rest of the mix later.
\n\nAfter you have sown the seed mix, you can roll the seeds (if the soil is dry enough) to improve:
\n\nDuring the first spring and summer after sowing, it’s advisable to check the block or strip regularly to monitor germination. If establishment is poor, you may need to re-sow all or part of it. Your seed supplier can help you if you’re unsure what to do.
\n\nDuring the first 12 months have sowing, you can cut emerging flowers and weeds. This can help to control weeds, so the sown plants can establish.
\n\nIt’s advisable to cut at a height which removes the top growth of any weeds to avoid:
\n\nIf your mix includes early flowering annuals (such as black medick, common vetch, crimson clover or phacelia), it’s advisable to cut either:
\n\nOnce the block or strip is established, this action requires you to maintain it by managing it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.
\n\nTo help you achieve this action’s aim, you can:
\n\nOnce the block or strip has finished flowering, you can choose to:
\n\nWhere you have left areas uncut or ungrazed over the winter months, you can cut or lightly graze them in the spring (usually March) before the flowers have started to grow.
\n\nThis can help to stop grass weeds from growing.
\n\nIf you’re cutting the block or strip:
\n\n