SW15: Flood mitigation on arable reversion to grassland
Find out about eligibility and requirements for the flood mitigation on arable reversion to grassland option.
How much will be paid
£740 per ha
Where to use this option
It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier on whole or part parcels, only on arable or temporary grassland that meets all of the following:
- the site, either alone or as part of a group application, forms a natural hydrological unit
- you have written support from the Environment Agency or Lead Local Flood Authority and where relevant Internal Drainage Board
In Higher Tier, a Natural England adviser or a person nominated by NE must have endorsed your application.
In Mid Tier, you must have support and approval from Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) to use this option.
Features that can be included in this option
You can include the following features if they are part of the land, even if they are not eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS):
- ditches, dykes, drains and streams that are less than 4m wide for the majority of their length in the parcel
- natural unsurfaced roads, tracks, paths and bridleways, as long as the requirements can still be met
- bracken
- areas of scrub, rock outcrops, and boulders up to 0.1 ha
How this option will benefit the environment
It will intercept and slow surface runoff from rainfall events and provide space for water from streams and rivers to be stored during a flood event to help manage flood risk.
It can be used in Mid Tier or Higher Tier to
- slow down surface runoff on land outside the floodplain by creating temporary storage behind suitable structures such as low earth bunds and modified field-boundaries, or enhanced hollows and depressions
In Higher Tier it can also be used to:
- enable the re-connection of the river with the floodplain in areas that will not attract funding from an Environment Agency (EA) flood scheme or SW12 - Making space for water - but will still help to manage flood risk. Flood water will be allowed to spread across the land and naturally subside
- reconnect the river and floodplain in association with specific Priority River Habitats and SSSIs
If successful there will be new areas of temporary water storage within the floodplain that may help delay peak flood flows reaching communities and infrastructure at risk of flooding.
Aim
If you’re selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aim is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.
Throughout the year there will be a dense grass sward. This sward will be established by 1 October in year 1, using an appropriate mix for the site with at least 5 species. The features in place will allow flood water and/or surface water to spread across the parcel and naturally subside. Non-biodegradable flood debris must be removed.
Prohibited activities
To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.
- Use pesticides, including herbicides, except to spot treat or weed wipe or to control injurious weeds or invasive non-natives
- Undertake land forming and earthworks, works to river-banks or bed, flood defences or bank protection and drainage works unless with prior agreement from Natural England and the relevant consents and permissions other than as set out in the agreement by your NE adviser or, for Mid Tier, by your CSF adviser
- Apply any manure or fertiliser
- Fill hollows and wet features in the field
- Store materials in the option area
- Allow any accumulated sediment and woody debris to compromise the design capacity of any bunds or breaches in embankments.
Recommended management
To assist you in achieving the aims and delivering the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend you employ best practice.
We recommend that you:
- prepare the land to receive additional surface runoff or flood water
- establish grassland with at least 5 species of grasses. The mix of seeds should include no more than 60% of perennial ryegrass plus a mix of rough bluegrass, creeping bent grass, meadow foxtail, red fescue, crested dog’s-tail and tall fescue.
Keeping records
Before you apply, you should contact the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authority and where relevant Internal Drainage Board for advice and any consent/approval that is required. You do not need to provide this with your application, but you will need to submit it with your payment claim.
You must send the following with your claim:
- written support from the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authority and Internal Drainage Board (where relevant)
You must keep the following records and supply them on request:
- receipted invoices, consents or permissions connected with any work
- field operations at the parcel level including soil loosening to remove compaction, clearance of flood debris, de-silting of bunded areas, reseeding
- dates and photographs of flooding
- NE endorsement
- photographs of the management undertaken
- evidence of support from CSF
In Mid Tier you will need to discuss and agree the detailed requirements with your CSF adviser.
In Higher Tier, where you are reconnecting the river and floodplain you will need to discuss and agree the detailed requirements with the Environment Agency or the Lead Local Flood Authority and Internal Drainage Board (where relevant).
The detailed requirements for this option will be tailored to the site. You should discuss and agree these requirements with your adviser
Related options
You can locate several other options and supplements on the same area as this option. You should discuss and agree these with your adviser
Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this option
The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.
How to choose the right location
In most cases you’ll need professional advice to choose the right location for this option. Each situation will have different priorities.
Slowing down surface runoff – a CSF Water Management Plan or a PA1 Implementation Plan may be sufficient. In complex applications you may need more advice, such as a PA2 Feasibility Study. Your adviser can guide you to possible sources of relevant advice.
You’ll need a feasibility study for reconnecting the river and flood plain – this could be funded using PA2: Feasibility Study but could also be provided by another project. This study should explore the options and provide evidence for the recommended solution. You can use capital items where major preparatory works are required to restore a priority habitat or priority species.
You cannot use the option where there is an existing obligation to carry out the works or management required, for example, as a planning condition or as compensation.
You’ll need a Capital Works Plan to set out how to enable reconnection of the river and floodplain to help manage flood risk or to alter the current course of the river where you are using the option in Higher Tier to support land adjacent to parcels with SW12 Making Space for Water. It should include the engineering requirements to implement the option.
Consents and permissions
You will need advice and relevant consents from the Environment Agency for land adjacent to main rivers, Lead local Flood Authority for other land and the Internal drainage Board in your area.
Get help to carry out this option
In some cases you may need to hire a specialist project or site manager to act as a clerk of works to help carry out this option.
Access routes and managing flood risk
You may need new routes or bridges to access and maintain the site. You should not locate these where they will affect future river movement or temporary flooding.
Identify escape routes and refuge areas for people or livestock to use during floods.
Work with neighbouring farms
You might need to work with neighbouring farms to manage land within the hydrological unit and make sure you can access the land.
Further information
Whole-river restoration strategies have been developed for rivers designated as SSSIs. You can use this option to help implement them. Read more about restoring designated rivers in England on the River Restoration Centre website.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessments are being developed for all land in England, contact your local EA Adviser for more information.
Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply.
Last updated 4 January 2024 + show all updates
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Update to How Much Is Paid
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This option is now available for Mid Tier - sections have been updated to reflect this.
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The Keeping records section has been updated
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First published.