{"analytics_identifier":null,"base_path":"/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cup9-low-livestock-grazing-on-moorland","content_id":"7edc3d15-775e-4fd0-81bf-7b39f715f6e2","description":"What you must do to get paid for this CSHT action and advice on how to do it.","details":{"body":"
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This action is part of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You must read the CSHT guidance before you apply.

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Duration 

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10 years

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How much you’ll be paid

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£53 per hectare (ha) per year 

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Action’s aim 

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This action’s aim is that there’s a low livestock density grazing on the moorland, so its habitat is maintained or enhanced alongside farming.

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The purpose of this is to:

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Where you can do this action

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You can only use this action in combination with Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier action CUP3: General moorland management.

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You can do this action on eligible land that:

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If a land parcel is located above and below the moorland line, you can enter it into this action if:

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Eligible land

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You can do this action on land that’s: 

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Eligible land typeEligible land coverCompatible land use code
Permanent grasslandPermanent grasslandPG01
Scattered scrubNotional featuresNF03
Scattered bracken or heatherNotional featuresNF02
Watercourse – river or stream (Rivers and Streams Type 2)Inland waterIW02
Fen, marsh and swampInland wetlandIW06
BogInland wetlandIW07
Non-agricultural area or feature which is temporary and likely to change over time (ineligible area)Non-agricultural areaNA02
Scattered rockNotional featuresNF01
Scattered water featuresNotional featuresNF05
Scattered natural featuresNotional featuresNF06
GallopNatural transport – tracks and gallopsNT01
Track – natural surfaceNatural transport – tracks and gallopsNT03
ScreeRockRO02
BouldersRockRO03
Rocky outcropRockRO04
Watercourse – ditch, drain or dykeWater/irrigation featuresWF01
PondWater/irrigation featuresWF03
ScrubNatural woodlandWO25
Bracken, heather and heathlandHeath land and brackenHE02
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Available area you can enter into this action

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Total available area in the land parcel.

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Rotational or static action

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

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What to do

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Your Natural England adviser will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.

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 To get paid for this action, you must either:

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For the following actions, the period of livestock removal required in that action will be deducted from the average stocking calculation:

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You must record:

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If you manage several adjacent land parcels as one grazing unit, you can keep one stocking calendar for that grazing unit.

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To convert livestock numbers into GLU, your Natural England adviser will decide on the appropriate value depending on the type and breed of livestock grazing the area. They may use the following values:

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Lambs at foot do not have a separate GLU allocation, they are included in the figure for the ewe.

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You must not supplementary feed livestock on land entered into this action, unless this has been agreed with your Natural England adviser to support the purpose of this action.

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The feeding of hay or haylage is permitted in cases of extreme weather for the purpose of animal welfare only.

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Extreme weather is defined as 2 or more consecutive days of deep snow or hard frost.

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Read more about supplementary feeding in extreme weather in the advice section of this action.

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When to do it

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You must do this action each year of its duration.

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Evidence to keep

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You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence.

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You must supply the evidence if they ask for it, including: a monthly record of stock numbers and shepherding activities.

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For each supplementary feed (due to extreme weather or as agreed), you must provide:

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

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

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Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action. 

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SchemeAction or option code
\nSFI 2024 actionsCMOR1, HEF5
\nSFI 2023 actionsMOR1
\nCSHT actionsCUP3, CUP11, CUP12, CUP13, CUP14, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CWS1, CWS3, CSP21, CSP20, CSW25, CAGF1, CAGF3, CAGF2, CAGF4, CHS4
\nCS optionsHS4
\nES optionsN/A
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You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:

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Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

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To apply for this action, you’ll need:

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You may need to:

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All historic and archaeological features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).

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If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.

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Capital grants to support this action

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If you need to complete an implementation plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for capital grants plans funding. 

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You can also apply for capital items to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser will discuss eligible capital items with you.

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Advice to help you do this action

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The following optional advice may help you to do this action. Your agreement document will set out all the activities you must do.

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Grazing rates

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Lowland ewe and lamb or ram means: 

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Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb, or hogg or teg means: 

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Your Natural England adviser will calculate the appropriate GLU based on the breed and type of stock grazing the site. For example:

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Grazing on moorland 

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Sheep, cattle and ponies graze in different ways. 

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You can achieve greater environmental benefits if you graze the moorland with:  

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Species traits: ponies  

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Ponies:  

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Species traits: cattle  

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Cattle:  

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Cattle are more likely to cause poaching due to their size and particularly on wetter areas. You can remove them from the area over the winter months to reduce the risk of poaching. 

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Species traits: sheep  

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Sheep:  

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Sheep can cause a decline in dwarf shrub cover (including heather). This is due to selective browsing and happens most frequently when out over the winter. You can reduce the risk of this happening by: 

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Attracting birds, mammals and insects 

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To attract more birds, mammals and insects, plan to create more structure in the vegetation. You could:  

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Avoiding damage to historic and archaeological features

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Check that there is a cover of dwarf shrubs, heather and other shallow rooted vegetation. This will help prevent the following occurring on historic and archaeological features:

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Grazing to maintain or enhance moorland habitat  

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To help you achieve this action’s aim, you may need to graze the following moorland habitats:  

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You do not need to graze:  

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To restore some habitats that livestock like to eat, you may need to:

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Neighbouring livestock 

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If the area of moorland you enter into this action is unfenced and adjacent land is grazed by other farmers or land managers, you may need to:

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Wild herbivores

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Consider the impact of wild herbivores on your moorland. Deer and rabbits are the species most likely to affect moorlands. If wild herbivores are regularly grazing a moor, you may need to manage the populations or factor their impacts into your livestock grazing rate. This means lowering your proposed livestock grazing rate to take account of the wild herbivores grazing impact.

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