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£55 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there’s a well-managed, intact grass sward or vegetation throughout the year which:
\n\ncovers an historic or archaeological feature
\nhas minimal bare ground, scrub, bracken or pernicious weeds
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nprotect historic and archaeological features
\nhelp maintain and conserve landscape character
\nYou can do this action on agricultural land that’s:
\n\nidentified on your SFI Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER) as containing an historic or archaeological feature – you must get an SFI HEFER before you apply for this action
\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 that’s compatible with the eligible land cover
\nYou cannot do this action on land parcels of more than 15ha above the moorland line.
\n\n| Eligible land type | \nEligible land cover | \nCompatible land use code | \n
|---|---|---|
| Permanent grassland | \nPermanent grassland | \nPG01 | \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: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you apply for 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 static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
\n\nYou must manage the area containing the historic or archaeological feature in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim. This includes:
\n\nmaintaining a continuous grass sward or vegetation cover
\nminimising bare ground, scrub, bracken and pernicious weeds
\nYou must not:
\n\nplough, cultivate, re-seed, harrow or roll the grassland
\ncarry out supplementary feeding on or within around 6 metres (m) of the historic or archaeological feature
\nlocate vehicle or stock access routes within around 6m of the historic or archaeological feature (existing surfaced tracks can be used)
\nBefore you remove scrub or trees, you must get any relevant consents, permissions or licences. For example, you may need to apply for:
\n\na felling licence from the Forestry Commission
\na forestry environmental impact assessment (EIA) from the Forestry Commission
\nan agriculture EIA ‘screening decision’ from Natural England
\nRead section 10 ‘Get any regulatory consents before you do your SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information.
\n\nYou must do this action from its start date, throughout each year of this action’s 3-year duration.
\n\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
\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 | \nOFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF2 | \n
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nCIPM1, CMOR1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC2, OFM1, OFM2, PRF2 | \n
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIPM1, MOR1, NUM1, SAM1 | \n
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW18, CSW20, CWS1, CWS3 | \n
| \nCS options | \nOR1, OR2, OT1, OT2 | \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\nTo help you achieve this action’s aim, you can graze the grassland with livestock or cut it.
\n\nTo support grazing you may need capital items such as:
\n\nYou may be able to apply for capital grants to help you do this.
\n\nYou’ll need to check if you need consent to install these items on a scheduled monument. Read section 10 ‘Get any regulatory consents before you do your SFI actions’ of the SFI26 scheme information for more details.
\n\nYou can manage livestock to avoid:
\n\nGrazing with smaller and lighter livestock (such as sheep) can:
\n\nTo reduce poaching and erosion, you can:
\n\nIf you manage the grassland by mowing or strimming, try to avoid the ground becoming compacted.
\n\nTo minimise damage to the historic or archaeological features, you can avoid:
\n\nUsing higher cutting heights can avoid scalping. Where possible, try to mow at right-angles on linear earthworks, rather than following the feature.
\n\nIf you apply manure or fertiliser, try to avoid causing damage to the historic or archaeological feature with the machinery you use.
\n\nWherever possible, keep manure heaps away from the historic or archaeological features as:
\n\nPlants with deep roots can damage underground historic or archaeological features. These include:
\n\nTo prevent damage to the historic or archaeological features, you can:
\n\nWhere possible, you can remove scrub or trees to prevent damage to the historic or archaeological features. You’ll usually need a felling licence from the Forestry Commission before you can fell growing trees. Read section 10 ‘Get any regulatory consents before you do your SFI actions’ of the SFI26 scheme information for more details.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:30:43Z"},{"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 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":"2026-06-02T13:12:32Z"},{"note":"UPL1, UPL2 and UPL3 removed from SFI 2024 actions.","public_timestamp":"2024-08-13T15:09:46Z"},{"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\nEligibility of protected land - updated link to section 10.3 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI scheme information. \r\nWhat to do - added consents, permissions or licences you may need to apply for before you remove scrub or trees. Added link to section 10 ‘Get all necessary regulatory consents, permissions and licences in place’ in the SFI scheme information. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. ","public_timestamp":"2024-07-30T16:35:18Z"},{"note":"First published.","public_timestamp":"2024-05-21T10:37:12Z"}],"headers":[{"id":"duration","level":2,"text":"Duration"},{"id":"how-much-youll-be-paid","level":2,"text":"How much you’ll be paid "},{"id":"actions-aim","level":2,"text":"Action’s aim "},{"headers":[{"id":"eligible-land","level":3,"text":"Eligible land"},{"id":"eligibility-of-protected-land","level":3,"text":"Eligibility of protected land"},{"id":"available-area-you-can-enter-into-this-action","level":3,"text":"Available area you can enter into this action"},{"id":"rotational-or-static-action","level":3,"text":"Rotational or static action "}],"id":"where-you-can-do-this-action","level":2,"text":"Where you can do this action "},{"id":"what-to-do","level":2,"text":"What to do "},{"id":"when-to-do-it","level":2,"text":"When to do it "},{"id":"how-to-do-it","level":2,"text":"How to do it "},{"id":"evidence-to-keep","level":2,"text":"Evidence to keep 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