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£350 per hectare (ha) per year
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there’s a mosaic of scrub, grasses and other flowering plants, with:
\n\nscrub cover managed to maintain the mosaic
\na variety of shrub species, heights and structure
\ngrowing trees and deadwood, where relevant
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nprovide pollen and nectar sources for beneficial insects, such as bumble bees, solitary bees and butterflies
\nprovide food and habitats for birds and mammals
\nimprove the quality of woodland edges and transitions between other habitats
\nprotect soils and watercourses by reducing soil erosion
\nYou can do this action on land located below the moorland line that’s:
\n\ngot existing scrub cover on at least 10% of its area
\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
\nThis action is not suitable for:
\n\npeatland, because creating scrub could damage it
\nland used by breeding waders, because they need open grassland habitat
\n| Eligible land type | \nEligible land cover | \nCompatible land use code | \n\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary grassland | \nArable land | \nTG01 | \n\n |
| Arable land lying fallow | \nArable land | \nFA01 | \n\n |
| Permanent crops – horticultural | \nPermanent crops | \nTC01 | \n\n |
| 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): Ineligible – you must not enter any area that’s designated as an SSSI into this action.
\n\nHistoric and archaeological features: Ineligible – you must not enter any area that contains 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 Rural Payments Agency (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 entered into this action in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim, including:
\n\nmanaging the scrub and non-woody grassy vegetation by patchy cutting or light cattle grazing to maintain the mosaic
\nmanaging the scrub so there’s dense and scattered scrub on between 10% and 60% of the area, as well as open areas
\nmanaging the non-woody vegetation in a way that allows for scrub regeneration and produces a varied sward
\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:
\n\ngraze or cut the area in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be achieved
\ngraze the area with sheep, because their grazing habits would not achieve this action’s aim
\nplough, cultivate or re-seed
\ncarry out mechanical activities, such as cutting, in a way that may disturb breeding birds or damage nests, as birds, nests and eggs are protected by law
\napply fertilisers, manures or lime
\napply pesticides, except for herbicides, to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken
\nrelease gamebirds
\ncarry out supplementary feeding of grazing livestock or game birds, except for providing non-energy mineral blocks
\ncarry out drainage works or change existing drainage, without written permission before work starts
\nYou can maintain an existing area of scrub and open habitat mosaics 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 Countryside Stewardship option WD7 (management of successional areas and scrub)
\nYou must do this action each year of its 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\nstocking records to show grazing activity at a land parcel level
\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\n |
|---|---|---|
| \nSFI 2026 actions | \nNo SFI 2026 revenue actions | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nCIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1 | \n\n |
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nIPM1, NUM1, SAM1 | \n\n |
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nCPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3 | \n\n |
| \nCS options | \nNo CS revenue options | \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\nYou can apply for supplemental action SPM5: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) on land you enter into this action in the same SFI26 application.
\n\nIf you apply for SPM5, you can also apply for supplemental action UPL5: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 70% GLU) or UPL6: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (100% GLU).
\n\nThe following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nScrub will grow in unmanaged areas close to trees and shrubs, where there is an existing seed source.
\n\nYou can manage existing scrub at most locations, such as:
\n\nYou can maintain variety of shrub species, heights and structure by:
\n\nThe best way to maintain diverse scrub is with light browsing and grazing by cattle and wildlife. It’s best to graze during the summer and limit the number of cattle. At light density, cattle can graze and trample scrub to create open patches and maintain the habitat mosaic.
\n\nYou may need to cut scrub in some areas if cattle either:
\n\nLow levels of deer browsing can also maintain diverse scrub, but at higher levels can browse out any new scrub. You may want to consider deer management to ensure successful regeneration.
\n\nYou can coppice small patches or areas in autumn or winter, to avoid disturbing breeding birds. Try to avoid cutting patches that are next to each other in subsequent years, as this reduces the foliage available for invertebrates to feed on.
\n\nYou may find it helpful to read Natural England’s guidance on the management of scrub.
\n\nYou may need to apply for a:
\n\nRead section 10 ‘Get any regulatory consents before you do your SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:30:04Z"},{"note":"The following changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version):\r\n\r\n•\tupdated wording to explain which land is not suitable for this action (see ‘Where you can do this action’ – 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":"2026-06-02T13:07:25Z"},{"note":"SPM4 and SPM5 added as supplemental actions.","public_timestamp":"2024-08-13T15:04:48Z"},{"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 - 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 - added the reason why you must not use sheep to graze. Added link to GOV.UK guidance on birds, nests and eggs being protected by law. You can provide non-energy mineral blocks. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. 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