Guidance

CSHT applicant's guide

Published 10 September 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht/csht-applicants-guide

1. About the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme

CSHT pays farmers and land managers to manage land in a way that:

  • protects, restores or enhances the environment
  • mitigates the effects of climate change

CSHT can be done on woodland, farmed land, land managed for nature or a combination of these. This includes important environmental or historic sites, such as:

  • sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
  • commons
  • woodlands
  • scheduled monuments

CSHT agreements will consist of land management practices called ‘actions’. For 2025, there are 99 base actions and 33 supplemental actions. You can only choose supplemental actions if you apply for the corresponding base action. Each action aims to achieve an outcome that benefits the environment.

When you apply for a CSHT agreement, you can also apply for capital items to help you achieve your intended environmental outcomes. Read section 4: ‘Capital items’ for more information.

The actions and capital items will allow you to:

  • manage woodland and agroforestry
  • create, restore and manage wetlands, coastal habitats, lowland peat, moorland and grassland
  • restore and manage waterbodies, such as lakes, ponds and rivers
  • reduce flood risk or improve resilience to flooding
  • support species recovery of specific animals and plants
  • provide permissive access to the public
  • protect and restore historic or archaeological features

CSHT agreements will last for 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. This will depend on the actions in your agreement with the longest duration (most actions will last for 5 years, but some will last for 10, 15 or 20 years). If your agreement contains capital items, you must:

  • complete the capital items included in your CSHT agreement within 3 years from the start of your agreement, unless you need to do it sooner to meet the requirements of a base action or supplemental action
  • claim for capital items after you have completed them and within 3 months of the end of this 3-year period

1.1 When the CSHT scheme opens

CSHT will roll out in a controlled way by invitation, so everyone gets the right level of support. Farmers and land managers will be invited on a rolling monthly basis.

You can only apply for CSHT if you have:

- received pre-application advice
- been invited to apply

You need to wait for an invitation for pre-application advice. Section 1.2 explains who will receive invitations first.

Receiving pre-application advice and making an application does not guarantee you will be offered a CSHT agreement.

Natural England or the Forestry Commission (or both) will advise you on what base actions and supplemental actions you should include in your CSHT application. Your application may not progress if you do not follow this advice.

1.2 Who will receive pre-application advice first

You will be invited to receive pre-application advice if you fall into one of the following categories.

1.2.1 If your existing CS Higher Tier agri-environment agreement expires at the end of 2025

Natural England will offer you pre-application advice if your existing CS Higher Tier agreement expires at the end of 2025. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will contact groups of these agreement holders on a monthly basis.

During the pre-application stage, Natural England will discuss with you:

  • the range of new and amended actions available under CSHT and how they can be adapted to support your site
  • if capital items are needed to support your application and what they should be

You will not be able to apply for a new CSHT until your existing CS Higher Tier agreement has expired. You can still proceed through the pre-application process when you’re invited to do so. This means there will be a funding gap between your old agreement ending and your new agreement starting. The start date for your new agreement will not be backdated.

1.2.2 If your existing CS Higher Tier or Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agri-environment agreement expires after 2025

If your existing CS Higher Tier or HLS agreement ends beyond 2025, you will be contacted closer to your agreement end date.

1.2.3 You have an approved woodland management plan in place

The Forestry Commission will prioritise applicants with an approved woodland management plan already in place. The RPA will contact you to begin your pre-application process and will send you a woodland improvement pre-application form that you need to complete. The pre-application form will help you with preparatory work required for CSHT and:

  • ask you to select the actions, supplemental actions and capital items that are available in the new woodland CSHT offer
  • ask you to check that your woodland management plan is aligned with the CSHT application you intend to make
  • ask you to check that a species management plan or any other plans required are in place
  • allow you to ask for some early advice, if you need it

1.2.4 You have completed preparatory work for a new agri-environment or mixed agreement

Natural England or the Forestry Commission will prioritise applicants with approved plans already in place, such as an implementation plan or agroforestry plan. A Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will contact you to discuss:

  • if you need any other plans to support your agri-environment or mixed application (an application including agri-environment and woodland actions), such as a species management plan, on the application land
  • the range of new and amended actions available to you under CSHT and how they can be used to support your site
  • if you need to include any capital items to support your application

1.3 Other farmers, foresters or land managers

Agri-environment applications

Not everyone who would like to apply will be able to do so when CSHT opens. You must wait for RPA to invite you to receive pre-application advice, you do not need to contact them.

You may be able to apply for capital grants to help you prepare plans to support a CSHT application (read section 4.1: ‘Prepare for CSHT using capital grants’)

Woodland management or agroforestry applications

Before you can apply for CSHT woodland management or agroforestry actions, you must have either:

  • a woodland management plan to apply for woodland management actions
  • an agroforestry plan to apply for agroforestry actions

The Forestry Commission must have approved the plans before you can apply. If you do not have these plans in place, you can prepare them before you are invited into the pre-application process. Read section 4.1: ‘Prepare for CSHT using capital grants plans’ for more information.

2. Working with advisers before you apply

When you receive an invitation for pre-application advice, you will need to confirm you are ready to start the pre-application process within 10 working days. A Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will contact you to discuss what you need to do before you can apply. They will work with you to identify suitable actions and capital items you will need to include in your application, and adapt them:

  • specifically for your land
  • to meet intended environmental outcomes

You must make your adviser aware of other commitments on your land during the pre-application process.

3. About CSHT actions

CSHT includes:

  • actions similar to some options available in previous CS schemes – some of these have been updated to reflect feedback from the farming and forestry industry
  • new actions, for example for agroforestry, river and floodplain habitat restoration or permissive access
  • some actions that were available in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) that need to be adapted to your site in CSHT to achieve the intended outcomes
  • supplemental actions that you can only do with the relevant base action

You can select any compatible combination of actions if all the following apply:

  • you have ‘management control’ of the land – read section 7.2: ‘Who has management control’ to understand what this means
  • your land (or landscape feature) is eligible – eligibility for each CSHT action is published on the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool
  • you have agreed this with Natural England or the Forestry Commission (and where relevant, the Environment Agency or Historic England)

For some actions, you are required to select the total available area of the land parcel to meet the intended environmental outcome for that action (each action will tell you if you need to apply it on the total or part of the available area). Read section 8.5: ‘Available area calculation’ for more information.

Annex A is a summary of CSHT actions and payment rates.

Search for CSHT actions and their eligibility requirements on the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool.

3.1 Rotational actions

Some actions are ‘rotational’. This means that, at the end of each agreement year, you can either:

  • move the action to a different location for the following year
  • leave the action at the same location for the following year

This is set out in the requirements of each action in your agreement document. The eligibility requirements for each CSHT action are published on the ‘Find funding for land or farms’ tool.

If you select a rotational action, you’ll tell the RPA its area and location for the first year of its duration in your application. This can be either:

  • where it’s located at the time you apply
  • where you will locate it, if it’s an action you can start doing within 12 months of the action’s start date

You will not be able to increase the total area of each rotational action (stated in your agreement document). in subsequent agreement years.

After the first year of the rotational CSHT action, you can decrease the area by no more than 10% of the area you entered in the first year.

If you decrease the area by more than 10%, it may delay you receiving your payments.

If you decrease the area in the second year, you can increase it in the third year, as long as it’s no more than the area you entered in the first year. This will apply to all years of the action’s duration.

For example, if you enter 10ha for the first year, you could decrease it to 9ha for the second year and increase it back to 10ha for the third year.

Rotational actions declaration

You must tell the RPA about a change in location of rotational actions towards the end of each year of the action’s duration, except in the final year. The RPA will issue further guidance on how to do this.

3.2 Static actions

Some actions are ‘static’. This means you must do them at the same location each year of the action’s duration. This is set out in the description of each action.

3.3 SFI actions

When the SFI scheme re-opens, you may be able to apply for SFI alongside your CSHT application for actions that do not need to be adapted to your land. You will need to apply for each scheme separately.

You will need to check the relevant scheme guidance to make sure:

  • you’re eligible to apply for both schemes on the same land
  • actions are compatible
  • you’re not being paid twice for the same action
  • you’re following the relevant rules for each scheme

3.4 Actions with a limited area

There are some actions that are intended to be done on a small proportion (up to 25%) of the agricultural area on your farm. These actions are unlikely to deliver their intended aims if they’re done on more than 25% of the farm. These are known as ‘limited area actions’.

There are 6 CSHT limited area actions, these are:

You can select as many ‘limited area’ actions as you wish. However, if you have one or more SFI agreements with limited area actions, you must not exceed 25% as a combined eligible total area across SFI and CSHT. There were:

  • 6 limited area actions in the SFI 2023 offer
  • 10 limited area actions in the SFI expanded offer for 2024.

If you already have one or more existing SFI agreements with SFI limited area actions, you:

  • must make your adviser aware of this during the pre-application process 

  • will not be able to enter more land into CSHT limited area actions if you’ve already exceeded the 25% limit across your SFI agreements

4. Capital items available for CSHT

142 capital items are available in CSHT to help you achieve the aims of the CSHT actions you want to carry out.

Some actions require capital items as part of your CSHT application. You’ll need to discuss this with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer. You may need to complete some of these items in the first year of your CSHT agreement to meet the requirements of the action.

You can apply for these capital items with your CSHT actions in the same online application. Read section 12. ‘How to apply online’ to get started with your application.

Read Annex B for a list of capital items and payment rates available to support CSHT.

4.1 Prepare for CSHT using capital grants plans

You may be required to prepare a feasibility study or plan before you can apply for CSHT.

For woodland applications, you must prepare a woodland management plan. You may also need to prepare a species management plan. These will need to be approved by your Forestry Commission woodland officer before you can apply for CSHT.

You can apply for capital grant funding to help you prepare these plans to support your CSHT application. You can apply for plans before you receive pre-application advice. Having a plan does not guarantee you will get a CSHT agreement.

Each action will tell you if you need a plan in place as part of your pre-application preparation. You must include completed and approved plans with your CSHT application. Read section 12: ‘How to apply online’ for more information.

You need to apply through the existing capital grants application process for the following capital grants plans:

These plans will help you decide if you need any additional capital items to help you carry out those actions.

5. When and how much you’ll get paid

Your agreement document will set out:

  • a schedule of payments – this includes the indicative annual payment value for your selected actions and additional payments (where relevant) (section 5.3 explains how your payment is calculated)
  • an annual payment schedule – this sets out the indicative payments you’ll receive for each year of your agreement and for the entire agreement period
  • a summary of capital items and when to claim for them

Under a CSHT agreement, your annual payment is paid in quarterly instalments. You’ll usually receive your first payment in the fourth month after your agreement’s start date. You’ll receive the first 3 payments by an automated BACS transfer.

You must submit an annual declaration before you’re paid the fourth instalment. As part of your annual declaration, you must confirm you have complied, or expect to have complied, with all obligations in your agreement.

5.1 Claiming for capital items

You need to claim for capital items separately.

5.2 Your payment statement

The RPA will usually email your payment statement to you a few days before you get paid. This will tell you:

  • the value of your payment
  • the payment date

5.3 How your payment is calculated

Your CSHT agreement’s total annual payment value is based on:

  • what you’ve entered into your selected actions – in hectares (ha), metres, square metres (for scrapes and gutters), tonnes (for supplementary winter bird food) or the number of features (such as ponds), as relevant
  • the additional common land payment for group agreements (if applicable)
  • meeting the obligations set out in your CSHT agreement

6. Check if you’re eligible to apply

You can apply for a CSHT agreement if all the following conditions are met:

  • you’re a farmer, forester or land manager (if you’re applying on common land you must also be a ‘single entity’ – read Annex C: ‘Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing’ to find out what this means)
  • you have management control of the land to complete the CSHT actions and capital items in your agreement for the duration of those actions or items – read section 7: ‘Check if you have management control of land’ to find out what this means (or Annex C, section 4 for management control of common land)
  • you will not be paid under CSHT for an activity included in other agreements or for meeting legal requirements, including planning conditions and tenancy agreements

A farmer, forester or land manager is usually someone who is managing land as either:

  • an owner occupier
  • a tenant
  • a landlord
  • a licensor

If you want someone else to apply on your behalf, read section 11.3: ‘Check you have the correct permission to apply for CSHT’.

When CSHT opens for applications, you will only be able to apply if you are invited to do so.

6.1 If you’ve received a Lump Sum Exit Scheme payment

If you’ve received a payment under the Lump Sum Exit Scheme to leave or retire from farming:

  • as an individual – you’re not eligible to apply for a CSHT agreement on agricultural land unless you repay the lump sum
  • as a partnership or limited company – if only some partners or shareholders left the business, the remaining partners or shareholders can apply for a CSHT agreement without repaying the lump sum

If you are only applying for the 5ha of agricultural land that you have retained, or applying on non-agricultural land, you may enter that into CSHT without repaying the lump sum.

6.2 If you receive delinked payments

If you receive delinked payments (which replaced Basic Payment Scheme payments from 2024), you can apply for a CSHT agreement. This is because you will not be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time (known as ‘double funding’).

6.3 Eligibility of public bodies

A public body is a formally established organisation that is publicly funded to provide a public or government service.

Public bodies will be able to apply for a CSHT agreement, but only if they will not be paid under CSHT to complete activities that are already:

  • required by statutory duty, which means they’re part of the public body’s obligations
  • paid for by other funding sources, as this would be double funding

Public bodies include:

  • Crown bodies (including all government departments, executive agencies and trading funds)
  • non-departmental public bodies
  • local authorities
  • national park authorities
  • park corporations

See a list of all departments, agencies and public bodies.

Parish councils and former college farms are not considered public bodies. They’re eligible to apply for a CSHT agreement

7. Check if you have management control of land

You must have management control of the land parcels you enter into your CSHT agreement for the entire duration of the CSHT actions and capital items you select for that land.

Management control includes having control of any landscape features, such as hedgerows or ponds. Each relevant CSHT action explains how management control works for these features.

7.1 CSHT actions with different durations

As there are CSHT actions with different durations (5, 10, 15 or 20 years), an action’s duration may be shorter than the duration of your agreement (the ‘agreement period’). This is because your agreement period will last for the action with the longest duration. This means that, if:

  • all your selected actions have the same duration, and start and end on the same dates, you must have management control of the land for the duration of your agreement
  • your selected actions have different durations, or start and end on different dates, you must have management control of the land for the duration of each action

7.2 Who has management control

You’ll have management control if you have sufficient control over how the land is managed to complete the CSHT actions and capital items you’ve selected.

For CSHT, this usually means you or your business are:

  • an owner occupier who’s either farming or managing the land themselves or employing a contractor
  • a landlord
  • a tenant with a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) under the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995, or an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy – read section 7.3 ‘Land you occupy under a tenancy agreement’
  • a licensor
  • a group farming or managing common land (including areas of shared grazing) – read section 4 of Annex C: ‘Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing’ to find out about management control of common land

7.2.1 Management control if you are a landlord

If you’re a landlord applying for CSHT actions and capital items on land on which is occupied by a tenant, you must:

  • have management control of the land to do the action
  • make sure the action is completed

You must provide the tenant with the requirements of the action and capital item in writing and RPA may ask to see this.

7.2.2 Management control if you’re a tenant

When you enter land into a CSHT agreement, you declare that either:

  • you’ll have management control of it for the duration of your selected actions or capital items
  • you have your landlord’s written consent and their written commitment to complete your selected actions and capital items if you do not have management control for the duration of those actions and capital items

You must provide evidence of this if the RPA asks for it. Read section 7.3 ‘Land you occupy under a tenancy agreement’.

7.2.3 Management control if you’re a licensee

You will not have management control if you’re a licensee, who only has access to the land under a licence arrangement. However, if you have wider land management responsibilities like a tenancy (such as a Ministry of Defence licence), read section: 7.3 ‘Land you occupy under a tenancy agreement’.

7.3 Land you occupy under a tenancy agreement

If you occupy land under a farm business tenancy (FBT) or an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy, you must make sure you do not breach the conditions of your tenancy by entering this land into a CSHT agreement. It is your responsibility to check you can deliver your selected CSHT actions and capital items under your tenancy agreement.

Your tenancy must give you management control for the duration of the CSHT actions and capital items on tenanted land. If you’re not sure if your tenancy will continue (or be renewed), you need to check this with your landlord before you enter the tenanted land into a CSHT agreement.

If your tenancy expires before the end date of your selected CSHT actions, you will need to get your landlord’s written consent and written commitment that they or you will complete any outstanding actions and maintain capital items for the durability period in the CSHT agreement. You must provide evidence of this if the RPA asks for it.

The durability period means you must maintain all capital items under your CSHT agreement in the condition and to the specification set out in the agreement for 5 years from the agreement start date.

Joint CSHT agreements with landlords are not currently permitted. This may be possible in the future. Read the ’Agricultural landlord and tenant code of practice’ for what’s expected of tenants and landlords with:

  • ‘new opportunities, schemes and agreements’
  • ‘termination and renewal (including succession)’ of tenancies

7.3.1 Tenants on public body land

If you’re a tenant on land owned by a public body, you can only enter that land into a CSHT agreement if there is no double funding or duplicate obligations. Read section 8.2: ‘Land with other obligations or receiving other funding’ for more information.

8. Check if your land is eligible for CSHT actions

The land (including landscape features) you enter into your CSHT agreement must be eligible for the CSHT actions you select. It’s your responsibility to check that this is the case.

Your land or landscape feature will be eligible for your selected CSHT actions if all the following apply, the:

  • area or feature is in a land parcel that’s entirely located within England
  • area is an eligible land type – this is set out in each action
  • area is registered on your digital maps with an eligible land cover and declared with a compatible land use code – this is set out in each action
  • feature, such as a hedgerow, is eligible for the CSHT action you select – this is set out in each action

Eligible land must also be any of the following:

  • an agricultural area (defined as any area taken up by arable land, permanent grassland or permanent crops)
  • non-agricultural areas and features (such as heathland, rivers and streams, reedbeds or salt marsh)
  • common land or shared grazing land eligible for an agreement – read Annex C: ‘Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing’ for more information and requirements)
  • woodland that is 0.5ha or more, with a width of at least 20m – read Annex D: ‘Applying for woodland improvement actions’
  • recreational land (land used for permanent sports and recreational activities)
  • land that supports a priority species
  • a protected site

Protected sites include:

8.1 Land that is not eligible

The following land is not eligible for CSHT:

  • parcels with solar panels for generating electricity for use off-farm
  • developed areas with hard standing, including permanent caravan sites and areas used for permanent storage – except traditional farm buildings eligible for grants under CSHT and yards, tracks and farm buildings proposed for management through capital items
  • land that is already subject to another obligation incompatible with CSHT, read section 8.2: ‘Land with other obligations or receiving other funding’
  • land you do not have management control of for the duration of your selected CSHT actions

You also must not enter land (or a landscape feature) into your CSHT agreement if it’s being used for a CS option, or SFI action that:

  • requires activities which are not compatible with the CSHT actions you select
  • means you will be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time

Land included in a Landscape Recovery project that is in the implementation phase is not eligible for CSHT.

Read section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’ for more information.

8.2 Land with other obligations or receiving other funding

You cannot use a CSHT grant for activities which you are required to carry out under other legally binding obligations. There may be exceptions. Read section 9.6.4: ‘Conservation covenants’ and section 9.6.5: ‘Land subject to a Flood Defence Grant in Aid schemes’ for more information.

You cannot use CSHT to pay for any environmental management or other capital works that are already required:

  • by statutory duty, read section 6.3: ‘Eligibility of public bodies’
  • through payment from Exchequer funds
  • through grant aid from any other public body under any other grant scheme or obligation – Read section 9.6: ‘Other government funding’ for more information
  • through any other form of legally binding obligation – read section 9.7: ‘Private sector schemes’ for more information
  • for planning permission
  • for a section 106 agreement (or equivalent)
  • to restore or remedy any work carried out illegally

You cannot use funding you will receive for capital items in CSHT to pay for in-kind contributions (this means the value of donated work or service) or gifted materials where you have not incurred a cost for them.

8.3 Eligible land types for CSHT

Land type describes the type of land in more detail. For example, different types of grassland, such as improved grassland and low input grassland (semi-improved or unimproved).

The land type must be eligible for your selected CSHT actions at the start of your CSHT agreement. If the land type changes because of the action you’re doing, it will not affect eligibility. You’ll continue to be paid for your selected actions.

Each CSHT action sets out which land types (agricultural and non-agricultural) are eligible. It’s your responsibility to check the land type is eligible for each action you select.

The following are how certain land types are defined for CSHT.

Arable land

Arable land includes land that’s been cultivated to produce arable crops, such as:

  • combinable crops
  • root crops
  • crops grown for animal feed, such as maize
  • field vegetables and cut flowers
  • bulbs or soft fruit which are not ‘permanent crops’

Arable land also includes:

  • fallow land that’s available for crop production
  • temporary grassland – this is often part of an arable crop rotation and has usually been grassland for less than 5 consecutive years

You can manage temporary grassland as:

  • improved grassland – see also improved permanent grassland
  • low input grassland

Permanent crops

Permanent crops are non-rotational crops that usually:

  • occupy the land for 5 years or more
  • provide repeated harvests (other than permanent grassland)

They can be:

  • horticultural permanent crops, including commercial orchards, bush fruits, hops and vines
  • non-horticultural permanent crops, including miscanthus, reed canary grass, nursery crops and short rotation coppice

Permanent grassland

Permanent grassland is land used to grow grass for 5 consecutive years or more. It can either be improved or low input.

Improved permanent grassland is permanent grassland that’s been agriculturally ‘improved’ by at least one of the following activities:

  • regularly reseeding, or reseeding within the last 15 years
  • regularly applying fertiliser (typically at least 100 kilograms per hectare per year of nitrogen as an artificial compound fertiliser or animal manures and slurries)
  • blanket herbicide application to treat weeds

Improved grassland will usually have a high cover (more than 30%) of ryegrasses and white clover, with a low cover of wildflowers and sedges.

Low input (semi-improved or unimproved) permanent grassland is permanent grassland that’s been managed by doing at least one of the following activities:

  • no reseeding for at least 15 years
  • applying low or no amounts of artificial compound fertiliser or animal manures and slurries
  • applying localised or no herbicide to treat weeds

Unimproved low input grassland will have had no agricultural ‘improvement’, usually for at least 15 years. For example, no application of fertiliser or herbicide. This includes the land type ‘rough grazing’ as set out in the relevant CSHT actions (see also moorland).

Many semi-improved and unimproved low input grasslands will be classified and mapped as, or meet the criteria to be, priority habitats.

Moorland

Moorland includes permanent grassland and certain non-agricultural features, such as scrub, scree, bracken and bog, which are above the moorland line. You can find out which land is above the moorland line on the MAGIC website.

The vegetation of moorland areas is usually:

  • semi-natural moorland habitats including heathland, blanket bog, rough acid grasslands, rushy flushes, swamps, mires and bracken
  • upland calcareous grassland

Much upland moorland is either registered common land or shared grazing.

Woodland

Woodland is defined as an area of land that:

  • is at least 0.5ha
  • is at least 20m wide
  • is under a canopy of species that meet the definition of a tree – for example, it must have at least one woody stem and be expected to achieve a height of at least 5m

Land that meets this definition of woodland can include areas of open space. Typically, open space in the woodland should:

  • be appropriately scaled as part of the woodland
  • be no more than 0.5ha for any individual space – larger open areas will only be considered as woodland in exceptional circumstances
  • sit within the boundaries of the woodland area and be enclosed by woodland – some open space, such as glades and rides, may provide an access route from the boundary
  • include, but not limited to, forest tracks, rides, wayleaves and other permanent open areas

Read the Forestry Commission’s: ‘Definition of trees and woodland’ for more information.

Land cover is registered by the RPA on your digital maps. It describes the physical nature of the land. There are 3 agricultural land covers:

  • arable land
  • permanent grassland
  • permanent crops

There are also other non-agricultural land covers, such as farm buildings or woodland. These are included in the table of ‘non-agricultural land covers’.

Land use describes what you’re using the land for. For example, you’re using arable land to grow arable crops, temporary grassland or leaving it fallow. Each land use has a land use code which you declare in the Rural Payments service. This is not registered on your digital maps.

For each land parcel you want to enter into an area-based CSHT action, you need to check that its area is:

The eligible land covers and compatible land use codes are set out in each action. 

Read ‘Land use codes for rural payments’ for more information.

8.5 Available area calculation

If you select area-based CSHT actions when you apply for a CSHT agreement, the application service will automatically calculate what area in each land parcel may be eligible for the action. This is called the ‘available area’.

Sometimes this may be the total land parcel. For example, if the total parcel is eligible and it’s not being used for anything else.

In other cases, the available area for an action may be less than the total parcel, for example if:

  • some parcels have mixed land use, such as woodland and arable
  • part of the parcel might be in another action or scheme
  • the land is not eligible

Each area-based CSHT action sets out the area within each land parcel you can enter. This may be:

  • the total available area only
  • total or part of the available area within a land
  • part of the available area only

It’s your responsibility to check that the available area you want to enter into an area-based CSHT action in each land parcel:

  • is an eligible land type for the action – read section 8.3 ‘Eligible land types for CSHT’
  • will not overlap with any area entered into another CSHT action, SFI action, ES or CS option that is not compatible or means there would be double funding

8.6 Organic land

If your organic land is an eligible land type, you can enter it into most CSHT actions. The only action you cannot do on organic land is CAB2: Basic overwintered stubble. It is your responsibility to check the requirements of the action do not breach the conditions of the Organic Control Body (OCB).

You can only apply for organic-specific actions (COP3) if the land is registered as ‘fully organic’ or ‘in conversion’ with an OCB.

8.7 Land that includes a SSSI

You must include any SSSI on your holding in your application, unless Natural England agree you can exclude it.

For example, if:

  • there is no suitable action to manage the land
  • it is already being managed favourably through a different funding scheme

You must get SSSI consent from Natural England before you do any of the actions or capital items on this land.

Read section 13.3: ‘SSSI consent’ to find out how to get consent.

A Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer will work with you to agree on the specific management actions needed for your application. These actions will maintain or support the necessary improvements to achieve favourable condition for SSSI land. This applies to any habitats on your land identified as a priority habitat on the Priority Habitat Inventory in addition to SSSIs.

You can check if your land includes a SSSI on the Magic map.

8.8 Land with historic or archaeological features 

A CS Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (CS HEFER) from Historic England will identify if you have any historic or archaeological features (including scheduled monuments) on your land. It also contains advice from Historic England and local authorities that is adapted to your land about:

  • priorities for managing your holding
  • the best outcomes for features you can achieve

You must have an up-to-date CS HEFER covering all the land parcels on your holding before you select actions or capital items in your CSHT application. You cannot use a HEFER you’ve already got for an existing SFI or CS agreement.

8.8.1 How you receive a HEFER

After the RPA has invited you to receive pre-application advice, they will ask Historic England to generate a HEFER for you. Historic England will send the HEFER to you by email approximately 20 working days after they receive the request.

The CS HEFER will tell you about:

  • any known historic or archaeological features on your holding
  • opportunities, requirements and recommended management for these features

You must retain any historic or archaeological features identified in your CS HEFER.

If the holding you enter into CSHT contains a scheduled monument, you must include the scheduled monument in your application. Historic England will advise you where you must include suitable actions and capital items to take account of the scheduled monument. You may get approval from Historic England to exclude the scheduled monument from your application, for example, if:

  • there is no suitable action to manage the land
  • it is already being managed favourably through a different funding scheme

Historic or archaeological features include:

  • non-designated historic or archaeological features (also known as ‘SHINE’ features)
  • registered parks or gardens
  • registered battlefields
  • scheduled monuments

If land with historic or archaeological features is ineligible for a CSHT action or capital item, this only affects the area where the feature is located in a land parcel. You can apply for the CSHT action or capital item on the remaining area in the land parcel if it’s eligible for the action.

You may need Scheduled Monument Consent to carry out some activities. Read section 13.1: ‘Scheduled Monument Consent’ for more information.

8.8.1 Soil sampling on eligible land with historic or archaeological features

If a CSHT action requires soil samples, you should avoid doing this on any area of land with an historic or archaeological feature identified on your CS HEFER.

You must not take soil samples on any area of land that’s a scheduled monument, unless you have consent to do so from Historic England. Read section 13.1 to find out how to get Scheduled Monument Consent.

If you need to take soil samples on an area of land with a Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England (SHINE) feature, or that’s a registered park or garden, or registered battlefield (identified on your CS HEFER), you should only:

  • take enough samples to meet the requirements of the CSHT action
  • sample to a depth of no more than 7.5 centimetres (cm) on permanent grassland
  • sample to a depth of around 20cm to a maximum of 25cm on arable land (including temporary grassland)

8.8.2 Other activities you should avoid doing on eligible land with historic or archaeological features

When you carry out your selected CSHT actions or capital items, should avoid causing damage or disturbance to historic or archaeological features, such as: 

  • growing deep rooted species
  • allowing areas of scrub to develop
  • grazing with free range pigs
  • allowing livestock to poach grassland, unless the ground disturbance is part of a programme of works intended to protect the historic or archaeological feature
  • sub-soiling or de-stoning unless these operations have been carried out as part of a routine in the past 5 years
  • deliberately ploughing more deeply or carrying out additional ground works or drainage on existing cultivated areas
  • removing any usable building stone, walling stone or traditional roofing material (excluding materials produced from established quarries) on the agreement land
  • damaging, demolishing or removing building material from substantially complete ruined traditional farm buildings, historic boundaries or from boundaries of parcels

8.8.3 Metal detecting

You are not allowed to metal detect on scheduled monuments, SSSIs and known archaeological sites on your agreement land without consent. These are identified on your CS HEFER.

On all other agreement land, metal detecting must not conflict with the requirements of your agreement where it may affect your ability to meet the recommended management of an action. For example, doing actions that are incompatible with ground disturbance, such as actions supporting:

  • ground-nesting birds
  • priority habitats

Metal detecting in these areas may cause a breach of agreement. Read section 17.4: ‘How you could breach your agreement’ for more information. You should follow the Code of Practice for Responsible Metal Detecting in England and Wales (2017) to metal detect responsibly on agreement land. You must report all finds to a Find Liaison Officer.

8.8.4 Archaeological fieldwork

You must notify the RPA in writing of a change of circumstances to carry out archaeological fieldwork (such as surveying, test pitting or excavation) on agreement land that may prevent you from carrying out your CSHT actions or capital items or cause ground disturbance on known archaeological sites. Read section 17.2: ‘What you must do if you cannot comply with your agreement’ for more information.

You must get consent before any fieldwork can begin if you carry out any:

8.9 Land designated as a European site 

A European site is designated as an:

  • SAC, or proposed SAC
  • SPA

All Ramsar sites and potential SPAs are treated as European sites under CSHT.

Natural England or the Forestry Commission (or both) must carry out a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) if you’re planning any activity on or next to a European site.

Your application will not be approved if the HRA results show that your proposed activity will have an adverse effect on the European site.

Applications that include conservation of special features for which the European site was designated will usually be accepted. However, some multi-year actions or capital items may need to be assessed in more detail.

8.10 Land that’s conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax 

Land that’s conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax (or the object of a maintenance fund) may not be eligible for CSHT actions or capital items if they are not compatible with or duplicate an activity within the exemption. Read: ‘Eligible funding on land conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax’ for more information and to see which actions or capital items are eligible or not.

9. Eligible land in other funding schemes

You can enter land that’s used for other funding schemes into CSHT actions and capital items in your CSHT agreement if:

  • you and your land are eligible for both
  • the activities you’re paid for under each scheme are compatible
  • you will not be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time

If a CSHT action cannot be done on the same area of land as the other funding scheme, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel if:

  • it’s an eligible land type for the action
  • it’s an action you can do on part of the available area in a land parcel
  • the area entered into the action does not overlap with the area used for the other funding scheme

9.1 Sustainable Farming Incentive 

You can enter land that’s in an existing SFI agreement into a CSHT agreement if it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes.’ 

9.2 Countryside Stewardship

You can enter land that’s in an existing CS Mid Tier, Wildlife Offers or Higher Tier agreement into a CSHT agreement if it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes.’

If you’re replacing an existing CS Higher Tier agreement with a new CSHT agreement, you must wait until your existing agreement has expired before you can apply.

You can enter land that’s in an existing capital grants agreement into a CSHT agreement if they pay for different things.

9.3 Environmental Stewardship (ES)

You cannot enter land that’s in an existing ES Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement into CSHT actions.

9.4 Landscape Recovery

You can apply for CSHT on land parcels in the development phase of a Landscape Recovery (LR) project, however farmers, foresters and land managers in LR will not be prioritised for CSHT pre-application advice at this time.

When the land in the LR project reaches the implementation phase, that land cannot stay in an CSHT agreement and will need to move into an LR agreement.

You can enter other eligible land on your holding into CSHT, provided this land is not in a LR project area.

9.5 Farming in Protected Landscapes

You can enter land that’s used for Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) funding into a CSHT agreement if it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’.

9.6 Other government funding

You can enter land into a CSHT agreement that’s in the following schemes as long as it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’:

  • England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)
  • Farm Woodland Payment (FWP)
  • Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS)
  • Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS)
  • England Woodland Grant Scheme agreement
  • Woodland Carbon Fund
  • HS2 Woodland Fund
  • Woodland management plan grant
  • Woodland Tree Health grant
  • Protection and Infrastructure grants
  • Land subject to section 106 planning permission
  • Capital Grants under Countryside Productivity
  • Growth Programme
  • LEADER
  • Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF)
  • Nature for Climate Fund – commitments under some NCF schemes might be included in CSHT in the future
  • Farming Investment Fund
  • other capital grants

9.6.1 Conservation Enhancement Scheme, Wildlife Enhancement Scheme or Section 15 Management agreements 

If you have land designated as a SSSI, you may be receiving payments under:

  • Natural England’s Conservation Enhancement Scheme (CES)
  • the Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (WES)
  • a section 15 management agreement

Generally, you cannot have a CSHT agreement on these land parcels. This depends on the specific requirements of the CES, WES or section 15 agreement. RPA will decide on a case-by-case basis if you are eligible for CSHT payments.

9.6.2 Heritage Fund 

You can apply for some Heritage Fund projects alongside CSHT on the same land parcels where CSHT payments are for separate activities.

9.6.3 Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation Aid Scheme

You cannot apply for CSHT actions on land that you farm as part of the Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation Aid Scheme.

9.6.4 Historic England Section 17 Management Agreements 

You can apply for CSHT actions if you have a Historic England Section 17 Management Agreement on the scheduled monument provided it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’.

9.6.5 Conservation covenants

CSHT can fund activities required by a conservation covenant, provided it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’. 

9.6.6 Land subject to a Flood Defence Grant in Aid schemes agreement

You can apply for CSHT on land that has received payments under Flood Defence Grant in Aid schemes such as the Natural Flood Management programme, provided it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’. 

9.6.7 Biodiversity net gain

You can apply for CSHT on land that is used to sell biodiversity units and nutrient credits provided the CSHT action creates further habitat enhancements in addition to the payment for biodiversity net gain.

You cannot sell an enhancement funded by an agri-environment scheme as a biodiversity unit or nutrient credit. Read: ‘Combining environmental payments: biodiversity net gain (BNG) and nutrient mitigation’ for more information.

9.7 Private sector schemes

You can enter land that’s used for a private sector scheme into CSHT actions if it complies with the conditions set out in section 9: ‘Eligible land in other funding schemes’.

Private sector schemes include arrangements such as carbon trading.

Defra will regularly review its policy on the eligibility of land in private sector schemes for CSHT.

10. Selecting CSHT actions and capital items

Following your pre-application advice, you can select CSHT actions and capital items that your land (including landscape features) is eligible for. You must have agreed these CSHT actions and capital items with Natural England, Forestry Commission or Historic England before you submit your application (read section 11: ‘What to do before you apply for a CSHT agreement’).

Annex A is a summary of the CSHT actions and their payments rates.

Search for CSHT actions using the Find funding for land or farms tool.

Annex B is a summary of the capital items and their payment rates you can use with CSHT. 

Search for capital items using the Capital grant finder tool.

11. What to do before you apply for a CSHT agreement

Read section 2: ‘Working with advisers before you apply’.

11.1 Get registered with the RPA

To apply for CSHT, you will need an account on the Rural Payments service. If you are using the service for the first time, you need to:

11.2 Check your registered contact details are up to date

Check your registered contact details, including your business email address, are up to date. The RPA will use these details to contact you about your CSHT application and agreement.

11.3 Check you have the correct permission to apply for CSHT

You need the correct permission to apply for a CSHT agreement for your business (SBI). Sign in to the Rural Payments service: 

From ‘Business overview’ select ‘Give people permission to act for this business.’ You need to have either: 

  • ‘Business Details: Full’ permission
  • ‘CS applications submit’

If you do not have either of these permissions, you need to ask someone with ‘Business Details: Full’ permission for the business to give you the correct permission.

How to give permission to someone acting on your behalf

If you want someone else to apply on your behalf, such as an agent, you need to:

  • check they’re registered with the RPA in the Rural Payments service
  • give them one of the required permissions to apply for a CSHT agreement

11.4 Check your registered land details are up to date

Check the registered land details on your digital maps are up to date, so they show: 

  • all the land parcels you want to include in your CSHT application
  • the correct total area (in ha) for each land parcel
  • the correct land covers for each land parcel (such as arable land, permanent grassland, permanent crops or relevant non-agricultural cover)

If these land details are not up to date, this may prevent you from applying for the CSHT actions or capital items you select. Read the guidance on how to check your digital maps.

If you need to update your digital maps, read the guidance on:

You do not need to check the registered hedgerows on your digital maps. These are not used in your CSHT application. 

12. How to apply online

When you have completed the pre-application process, you will be:

  • invited to apply for CSHT
  • given access to the application service

Follow the onscreen guidance to complete the 4 sections of your application.

Section 1. Check before you start

  1. Confirm your land details are up to date.
  2. Confirm you’re eligible to apply.
  3. Enter an agreement name.

Section 2. Select your actions and capital items

You must select the actions and capital items you agreed with your adviser when you received pre-application advice.

Section 3. Select land for you actions and capital items

You will be shown a map and table with available land parcels for:

  1. Static actions.
  2. Capital items.
  3. Rotational actions.

Select the land where you want to carry out each type of action or capital item, based on your pre-application advice.

Section 4. Review and submit your application

  1. Check your answers and update them if needed.
  2. Request a review of your actions and capital items by Natural England or the Forestry Commission. You will not be able to edit your application until they have completed the review.

You will be notified in the Rural Payments service when your review is complete.

Natural England or the Forestry Commission will tell you in the Rural Payments service if you need to amend or remove any actions or capital items. You’ll need to request another review by Natural England or the Forestry Commission of the changes you’ve made.

Once your actions and capital items are approved, you can submit your application.

You must provide evidence to support your application. Reply to the email inviting you to apply to attach supporting maps and documents.

You may find it helpful to use this checklist to make sure you’ve completed all the steps in the application process.

13. Get all necessary regulatory consents, permissions and licences in place 

You must comply with all statutory legal requirements that apply to you and your land. Read the guidance on ‘Rules for farmers and land managers’ for more information.

You must also get any required regulatory consents, permissions or licences before you carry out your selected CSHT actions or capital items.

You must keep evidence of any consents, permissions or licences in case RPA asks to see them.

This section covers the main consents you may need to get. It is your responsibility to check if you need consent, permission or a licence before you carry out the affected CSHT actions and capital items.

A ‘scheduled monument’ is a monument which has been scheduled for its national archaeological or historical interest. This means it’s protected by law against:

  • ground disturbance
  • unlicensed metal detecting

If your land has a scheduled monument, this will be identified in your CS HEFER (read section 8.7 ‘Land with historic or archaeological features’).

If your selected CSHT actions or capital items require activities which will disturb the ground on land with a scheduled monument, you must get Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England. You must do this before you do the affected CSHT actions or capital items.

If you will be taking soil samples on land with a scheduled monument, you must get consent for soil sampling from Historic England. You must do this before you take soil samples.

For guidance on activities which may affect scheduled monuments, read Historic England’s ‘Scheduled monuments – a guide for owners and occupiers’.

13.2 Planning permission 

You may need planning permission if your selected CSHT actions or capital items: 

  • change how you use your land from farming to something else
  • will be done on land or buildings which are designated as a conservation area
  • will be done on a listed building – you may also need to apply for listed building consent

It’s your responsibility to: 

  • check with your local planning authority or national park authority if you need planning permission
  • get planning permission, if it’s required, before you do the affected CSHT actions or capital items
  • comply with any conditions in relation to that agreement, such as biodiversity net gain

Read the guidance on when planning permission is required for more information.

An SSSI is a statutory conservation designation made by Natural England. You can find out if your land is an SSSI on the MAGIC website.

If you have habitats identified on the Priority Habitat Inventory (PHI), including land designated as SSSI, Natural England and the Forestry Commission will work with you to agree on the specific management actions needed for your application. These actions will maintain or support the necessary improvements to achieve favourable condition for SSSI land.

If you apply for CSHT actions or capital items on land that’s an SSSI, you must give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent for the actions or capital items, unless you already have SSSI consent for the actions or capital items selected.

If you already have SSSI consent, you must check that it applies to:

  • the area of land entered into the relevant actions or capital items
  • the activities you’ll do to complete those actions or capital items
  • the duration (5, 10, 15 or 20 years) of those actions
  • the period when any capital works are being carried out

The RPA will only offer you a CSHT agreement when Natural England confirms that either:

  • your notice to get SSSI consent has been received
  • you already have SSSI consent

If you accept your CSHT agreement offer:

  • your agreement can start before you receive SSSI consent from Natural England
  • you must not do the relevant actions or capital items until you receive SSSI consent – if you do, it will be a breach of your agreement

You will not receive any CSHT payment until you have SSSI consent.

13.4 Wildlife licences for protected species

You must get a wildlife licence from Natural England if the activities required by your selected actions or capital items:

  • will disturb or harm protected wildlife species, or disturb or destroy their habitats, for example cleaning out a pond
  • are not covered by a ‘general’ or ‘class’ wildlife licence

It’s your responsibility to check this and get a wildlife licence before you do the affected actions or capital items. 

Protected trees include:

  • specific trees, groups of trees or woodland protected by a tree preservation order (TPO)
  • trees growing in a conservation area

If your selected actions or capital items require you to do activities on protected trees, you must get consent from your local planning authority or national park authority. You must do this before you do the affected actions or capital items.

13.6 Felling licences to remove trees

Check if you need to apply for a felling licence from the Forestry Commission before you do actions or capital items which require activities to remove trees or woodland.

13.7 Permission to change uncultivated, semi-natural or rural land

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (Agriculture) Regulations protect: 

  • ‘uncultivated land’ or ‘semi-natural areas’ from activities which increase agricultural productivity (known as an ‘uncultivated land project’)
  • rural land holdings from restructuring activities which may have a negative environmental impact (known as a ‘restructuring project’), such as altering a field boundary or moving earth

‘Uncultivated land’ is land that has not been cultivated in the last 15 years by:

  • physical means, such as ploughing and harrowing
  • chemical means, such as applying fertilisers

‘Semi-natural areas’ include land that:

You must check if you need Natural England’s permission (an EIA ‘screening decision’) if your selected actions or capital items require activities that will:

  • increase the productivity of 2ha or more of uncultivated land or semi-natural areas – such as ploughing, applying fertilisers, sowing seed, converting grassland to arable, and clearing scrub or vegetation
  • add, remove, move or change the nature of a field boundary that’s 4 kilometres (km) or more in length (2km or more in sensitive areas, such as a national park) – this includes installing fencing to protect a habitat you’re creating
  • add, remove or distribute 10,000 cubic metres or more of earth or other material over an area of 100ha or more (5,000 cubic metres or more over 50ha or more in sensitive areas)

It’s your responsibility to get an EIA screening decision from Natural England, if required, before you do the affected actions or capital items.

Agroforestry and actions involving woodland

You may need a forestry EIA if your selected actions or capital items require activities that:

  • convert agricultural land to woodland by planting trees or allowing natural regeneration (self-sowing) of trees which could create woodland cover
  • remove woodland cover to convert the land to agricultural use or any other use

If you reach woodland thresholds, you may also need a forestry EIA for agroforestry and actions involving woodland. Read the Forestry Commission’s: ‘Definition of trees and woodland’ to help you decide.

It’s your responsibility to check if you need a forestry EIA before you do the relevant actions or capital items.

13.8 Permission to do work on or around a watercourse

You may need a permit or consent from the Environment Agency if your selected actions or capital items require you to:

  • do work on or near a watercourse
  • remove or transfer water
  • carry out drainage that affects the flow of a watercourse

It is your responsibility to get permission, where required, before you do any works associated with your CSHT agreement.

If you need to complete a feasibility study before applying to CSHT, you should include the permits, consents or licences that are required to carry out the actions or capital items.

Flood risk activity permit

You must follow the environmental permitting rules if you want to do work:

  • on or near a main river
  • on or near a flood defence structure
  • in a flood plain
  • on or near a sea defence

Check if you need to apply for a flood risk activity permit (FRAP) from the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency will normally decide about your FRAP application within 2 to 4 months if you’ve provided all the necessary information. You should plan enough time for the Environment Agency to decide on your application before you start work.

For work on or near a watercourse that is not a main river (such as small rivers, streams and ditches), you may need an ‘ordinary watercourse consent’ from either:

Water resource licences

You can get advice from the Environment Agency before you apply for a water resource licence. This allows you to check if you’ll be eligible for a licence and what you need to send with your application.

You can apply for a water resource licence to:

  • abstract water
  • create or change an inland water structure

The Environment Agency will usually decide within:

  • 28 days for temporary licences
  • 4 months for all other licence applications

You should plan enough time for the Environment Agency to decide on your application before you start work.

Abstraction licences

If you need to take water from a surface or underground source (‘abstraction’) or transfer (move) water from one source to another, check if you need to apply for an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency. Licences can be permanent or temporary. 

Abstraction includes taking water from:

  • rivers
  • streams
  • drains
  • reservoirs
  • lakes
  • ponds
  • canals
  • tidal waters and estuaries
  • springs
  • aquifers

Impoundment licence

If you need to build, alter or remove an ‘impoundment structure’ (an inland water structure that can temporarily or permanently change a water level or flow), check if you need to apply for an impoundment licence from the Environment Agency.

An impoundment structure includes:

  • dams
  • weirs
  • fish passes
  • hydropower turbines
  • sluices
  • penstocks
  • culverts
  • lock gates
  • retaining walls
  • flumes
  • reservoir embankments
  • temporary diversions during construction work

Waste permits or exemptions

Check if you need a permit, or to register an exemption to use, treat, store or dispose of waste. This includes sediment and plant material.

You may need a permit if your activity is covered by a regulatory position statement. For example, this may apply to treat and dispose of invasive non-native plant species.

Use of herbicides

Check if you need permission to use commercial herbicides (weed killer) to control unwanted weeds and vegetation in or near water.

Moving fish

Check if you need a licence to net or move fish as part of a river restoration project.

14. Business viability test

RPA will carry out appropriate due diligence to assess you have the administrative, financial, and operational capacity to meet the agreement requirements. If they assess your application is not financially viable, they may not offer you an agreement.

Assessment could include:

  • a check against the bankruptcy and insolvency register
  • a request for a statement from a registered accountant (for example, a chartered accountant or certified accountant)

In the case of very high value grants, they may request 3 years of your relevant business accounts or other evidence for review.

Contact the RPA

If you have a general question about CSHT, contact RPA by: 

  • completing a query form in the Rural Payments service – sign in to your Rural Payments account and go to ‘Create or view a query’ (this is the quickest way to receive a response)
  • email: ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk – use ‘CSHT’ in the subject header and include your SBI 
  • telephone: 03000 200 301 – Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm, except bank holidays 
  • post: PO Box 325, Worksop, S95 1DG

Annex A: list of CSHT actions and payment rates

You’ll find the details of CSHT actions on the Find funding for land or farms tool.

Payment rates are per year unless stated.

Access

Action code Action title Payment rate
CPAC1 Open access £92 per hectare (ha)
CPAC2 Access for people with reduced mobility £221 per 100m
CPAC3 Bridleway and cycle route access £158 per 100m
CPAC4 Footpath access £77 per 100m
CPAC5 Upgrading Countryside and Rights of Way ‘open access land’ and public rights of way for cyclists and horse riders £158 per 100m
CPAC6 Upgrading Countryside and Rights of Way ‘open access land’ and public rights of way for people with reduced mobility £221 per 100m

Agroforestry

Action code Action title Payment rate
CAGF1 Manage high density in-field agroforestry £849 per ha
CAGF2 Manage low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land £385 per ha
CAGF3 Manage medium density in-field agroforestry £595 per ha
CAGF4 Manage very low density in-field agroforestry on more sensitive land £248 per ha

Buffer strips

Action code Action title Payment rate
CWT1 Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on improved grassland £311 per ha
CWT2 Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on arable land £681 per ha
CSW21 6m to 24m 3-dimensional (3D) buffer strip £1,182 per ha

Coastal

Action code Action title Payment rate
CCT2 Make space for new coastal habitat £773 per ha
CCT3 Manage coastal saltmarsh and its vegetation £724 per ha
CCT4 Create intertidal and saline habitat on arable land £812 per ha
CCT5 Create intertidal and saline habitat by non-intervention £494 per ha
CCT6 Coastal vegetation management supplement £123 per ha
CCT7 Create intertidal and saline habitat on intensive grassland £494 per ha
CCT8 Manage and restore coastal sand dunes £620 per ha
CCT9 Manage and restore coastal vegetated shingle £583 per ha
CCT10 Manage and restore maritime cliffs and slopes £791 per ha

Farmland wildlife on arable and horticultural land

Action code Action title Payment rate
CAB2 Basic overwintered stubble £58 per ha
CAB5 Nesting plots for lapwing and stone curlew £765 per ha
CAB6 Enhanced overwintered stubble £589 per ha
CAB7 Whole crop cereals £596 per ha
CAB10 Unharvested cereal headland £1,072 per ha
CAB11 Cultivated areas for arable plants £660 per ha
CAB12 Supplementary winter bird food £732 per tonne
CAB14 Low input harvested cereal crops £354 per ha
CAB16 Bumblebird mix £747 per ha
CAB17 Winter bird food on arable and horticulture land £853 per ha
CAB19 Pollen and nectar flower mix £739 per ha
COP3 Supplementary winter bird food (organic land) £935 per tonne
CWD3 Manage woodland edges on arable land £428 per ha

Field boundaries

Action code Action title Payment rate
CHRW4 Manage hedgerows £13 per 100 metres (m) per side

Grassland

Action code Action title Payment rate
CGS16 Rush control supplement £95 per ha
CGS18 Manage species-rich floodplain meadows £1,070 per ha
CGS19 Manage wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl £547 per ha
CGS20 Manage wet grassland for breeding wader £676 per ha
CGS21 Manage grassland for target habitats, species or feature £528 per ha
CGS22 Manage priority habitat species-rich grassland £646 per ha
CGS23 Haymaking supplement £157 per ha
CGS24 Haymaking supplement (late cut) £187 per ha
CGS26 Manage grassland with very low inputs £151 per ha
CSP1 Difficult site supplement £93 per ha
CSP5 Shepherding supplement (non-moorland £10 per ha
CSP6 Cattle grazing supplement (non-moorland) £59 per ha
CSP7 Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly supplement £279 per ha
CSP11 Manage scrapes and gutters supplement £1.17 per m2
CUP2 Manage rough grazing for birds £121 per ha

Historic and archaeological features

Action code Action title Payment rate
CHS2 Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivation £613 per ha
CHS3 Reduce cultivation depths on historic and archaeological features £115 per ha
CHS4 Control scrub on historic and archaeological features £215 per ha
CHS5 Manage historic and archaeological features on grassland £55 per ha
CHS6 Maintain designed or engineered waterbodies £2,512 per ha
CHS7 Manage historic water meadows through traditional irrigation £863 per ha
CHS9 Restrict crop establishment depth on historic and archaeological features £257 per ha

Integrated pest management

Action code Action title Payment rate
CAB18 Flower-rich grass margins, blocks, or in-field strips (on arable land or permanent crops) £798 per ha

Lowland heath

Action code Action title Payment rate
CLH1 Manage lowland heathland £412 per ha
CLH2 Restore lowland heathland £311 per ha
CLH3 Create lowland heathland £711 per ha
CUP18 Manage features for wildfire management (fire and fuel breaks) supplement £137 per ha

Moorland

Action code Action title Payment rate
CUP3 General moorland management £55 per ha
CUP7 Manage non-peat moorland soils for flood and drought resilience supplement £160 per ha
CUP8 Moderate livestock grazing on moorland £20 per ha
CUP9 Low livestock grazing on moorland £53 per ha
CUP10 Limited livestock grazing on moorland £66 per ha
CUP11 Shepherding livestock on moorland (no required stock removal period) £33 per ha
CUP12 Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for a minimum of 4 months) £43 per ha
CUP13 Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for a minimum of 6 months) £45 per ha
CUP14 Shepherding livestock on moorland (remove stock for a minimum of 8 months) £48 per ha
CUP15 Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 30% GLU) £7 per ha
CUP16 Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 70% GLU) supplement £18 per ha
CUP17 Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (100% GLU) supplement £23 per ha

Nutrient management

Action code Action title Payment rate
CGS25 Legumes on improved grassland £102 per ha

Orchards

Action code Action title Payment rate
CBE4 Manage traditional orchards £264 per ha
CBE5 Create traditional orchards £471 per ha

Peat

Action code Action title Payment rate
CSW17 Raise water levels in cropped or arable peat soils to near the land surface £1,409 per ha
CSW18 Raise water levels in permanent grassland peat soils to near the land surface £1,381 per ha
CSW19 Raise water levels in cropped or arable peat soils £892 per ha
CSW20 Raise water levels in permanent grassland peat soils £840 per ha

Scrub

Action code Action title Payment rate
CWD7 Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics £350 per ha
CWD8 Create scrub and open habitat mosaics £588 per ha

Soil health

Action code Action title Payment rate
CGS4 Herbal leys £382 per ha

Species recovery and management

Action code Action title Payment rate
CSP3 Bracken control supplement £232 per ha
CSP9 Support for threatened species Up to £204 per ha
CSP12 Rhododendron control and management supplement £256 per ha
CSP13 Invasive plant species control and management (lower rate) £140 per ha
CSP14 Invasive plant species control and management (intermediate rate) £230 per ha
CSP15 Invasive plant species control and management (upper rate) £380 per ha
CSP16 Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (50-80%) £92 per ha
CSP17 Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%) £146 per ha
CSP18 Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%) £7 per ha
CSP19 Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%) £11 per ha
CSP20 Edible dormouse control and management £40 per ha
CSP21 American mink control and management £99 per 100m
CWS1 Deer control and management £105 per ha
CWS3 Grey squirrel control and management £60 per ha

Waterbodies

Action code Action title Payment rate
CSW7 Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input £489 per ha
CSW8 Manage intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse £311 per ha
CSW12 Make room for the river to move £1,489 per ha
CSW13 Manage grassland to reduce nutrient levels in groundwater £396 per ha
CSW14 Nil fertiliser supplement £156 per ha
CSW15 Flood mitigation on arable reversion to grassland £740 per ha
CSW16 Flood mitigation on permanent grassland £330 per ha
CSW22 Connect river and floodplain habitats £1,242 per ha
CSW23 Manage features on arable land for flood and drought resilience and water quality £1,241 per ha
CSW24 Manage grassland for flood and drought resilience and water quality £938 per ha
CSW25 Manage riparian and water edge habitats £1,186 per ha
CSW26 Enhanced floodplain storage supplement £366 per ha
CWT3 Manage ditches of high environmental value £38 per 100m for both sides
CWT15 Manage ponds and bodies of water up to 2 hectares £424 per pond
CWT16 Manage lakes and bodies of water greater than 2 hectares £109 per lake plus £135 per ha

Wetland

Action code Action title Payment rate
CWT10 Manage lowland raised bog £215 per ha
CWT12 Wetland grazing supplement £566 per ha
CWT13 Manage and restore fen, reedbed and wetland mosaics £920 per ha
CWT14 Create fen, reedbed or wetland mosaics £1,605 per ha
CSP2 Rewetting supplement £181 per ha

Woodland and trees

Action code Action title Payment rate
CWD1 Woodland creation maintenance £400 per ha
CWD2 Woodland improvement £127 per ha
CWS2 Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) supplement £275 per ha
CWS8 Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) supplement £144 per ha
CWS5 Improve woodland resilience supplement £202 per ha
CWS7 Manage historic features in woodlands supplement £943 per ha
CWS9 Manage woodlands for flood and drought mitigation supplement £56 per ha
CWS10 2-zone rides supplement £60 per ha for area of ride
CWS11 3-zone rides supplement £197 per ha for area of ride
CES6 Maintain features for wildfire management (fire belts) supplement £861 per ha

Wood pasture

Action code Action title Payment rate
CWD20 Create wood pasture £544 per ha
CWD21 Restore wood pasture and parkland £371 per ha
CWD22 Manage wood pasture and parkland £212 per ha

Annex B: list of available capital items and payment rates

Capital items listed in Annex B are available for CSHT. You’ll find their details on the Capital grant finder.

Item code Item title Payment rate
AC1 Access capital items Up to 100% of actual costs
AC2 Countryside educational access visits accreditation £277.26 once per agreement
AC3 Install and maintain signage – this is to stop feeding wildfowl, not access £55.65 per sign
AF1 Plant an in-field agroforestry woodland tree £5.40 per tree
AF2 Plant an in-field agroforestry fruit tree £17.83 per tree
AF3 Supplement: Species diversity bonus £1.16 per tree
AQ1 Automatic slurry scraper £2,760 per channel
AQ2 Low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings £72 per m2
BN1 Stone-faced bank repair £67.25 per m
BN2 Stone-faced bank restoration £163.26 per m
BN3 Earth bank creation £20.59 per m
BN4 Earth bank restoration £10.54 per m
BN5 Hedgerow laying £13.52 per m
BN6 Hedgerow coppicing £5.33 per m
BN7 Hedgerow gapping-up £17.22 per m
BN8 Hedgerow supplement – casting up £4.39 per m
BN9 Hedgerow supplement – substantial pre-work £7.06 per m
BN10 Hedgerow supplement – top binding and staking £5.82 per m
BN11 Planting new hedges £22.97 per m
BN12 Stone wall restoration £31.91 per m
BN13 Top wiring – stone wall £5.54 per m
BN14 Stone wall supplement – stone from quarry £164.50 per m
BN15 Stone wall supplement – difficult sites £15.91 per m
BN16 Repair stone walls £16.17 per m
FG1 Fencing £6.34 per m
FG2 Sheep netting £7.47 per m
FG3 Permanent electric fencing £5.66 per m
FG4 Rabbit fencing supplement £5.65 per m
FG5 Fencing supplement – difficult sites £3.98 per m
FG7 Anti-predator combination fencing £13.76 per m
FG8 Anti-predator temporary electric fencing £2.84 per m
FG9 Deer fencing £10.27 per m
FG10 Temporary deer fencing £8.09 per m
FG11 Deer exclosure plot £212.56 per unit
FG12 Wooden field gate £489.90 per gate
FG13 Stone gate post £651.42 per post
FG14 Badger gate £61.81 per gate
FG15 Water gates £532.80 per gate
FG16 Deer pedestrian gate £475.44 per gate
FG17 Deer vehicle gate £749.63 per gate
FM1 Management of geodiversity features Up to 100% of actual costs
FM2 Carry out customised capital works to manage priority specific sites or species Up to 100% of actual costs
FY1 Deer high seat £265 per unit
FY2 Woodland Infrastructure 60% of actual costs (including VAT and agent’s fees, where applicable). If you are using your own labour to complete this item, we will pay 80% of the 60% value.
FY3 Squirrel traps and maintenance 80% of actual costs (including VAT and agent’s fees, where applicable). If you are using your own labour to complete this item, we will pay 80% of the 80% value.
FY4 Create 2-ride zones rides in woodland Up to 40% of actual costs
FY5 Create 3-ride zones rides in woodland Up to 40% of actual costs
FY6 Restore coppicing in woodland Up to 80% of actual costs
FY7 Assessing woodland condition First 30 ha £13.63 per ha (minimum payment £300). Over 30ha £4.09 per ha
FY8 Supplement for a freestanding deer high seat £180 supplement for free standing seat
GR1 Create or restore grassland habitat £186.02 per ha
GR2 Standard seed mix for grassland habitat £203 per ha
GR3 Floristically enhanced seed mix for grassland habitat £890.02 per ha
HE1 Historic and archaeological feature protection Up to 100% of actual costs
HE3 Removal of eyesore £500.47 per item
LV1 Cattle grid £2,878.80 per item
LV2 Livestock handling facilities Up to 80% of actual costs
LV3 Hard bases for livestock drinkers £179.15 per base
LV4 Hard bases for livestock feeders £290.63 per base
LV5 Pasture pumps and associated pipework £295.90 per pump
LV6 Ram pumps and associated pipework £1,861 per pump
LV7 Livestock troughs £152.92 per trough
LV8 Pipework associated with livestock troughs £3.31 per m
RP1 Resurfacing of gateways £136.95 per gateway
RP2 Gateway relocation £369.59 per gateway
RP3 Watercourse crossings £506.44 per crossing
RP4 Livestock and machinery hardcore tracks £44.63 per m
RP5 Cross drains £750.26 per drain
RP6 Installation of piped culverts in ditches £376.23 per culvert
RP7 Sediment ponds and traps £11.88 per m2
RP8 Constructed wetlands for the treatment of pollution 50% of actual costs
RP9 Earth banks and soil bunds £195.61 for each unit (100m of bund)
RP10 Silt filtration dams or seepage barriers £198.14 per unit
RP11 Swales £7.52 per m2
RP12 Check dams £85.29 for each dam
RP13 Yard – underground drainage pipework £2.02 per m
RP14 Yard inspection pit £200 per unit
RP15 Concrete yard renewal £33.64 per m2
RP16 Rainwater goods £11.55 per m
RP17 Storage tanks underground £441.98 per cubic metre
RP18 Above ground tanks £73.34 per cubic metre
RP19 First flush rainwater diverters and downpipe filters £174.59 per unit
RP20 Relocation of sheep dips and pens £3,544.71 per unit
RP21 Relocation of sheep pens only £1,772.35 per unit
RP22 Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps £19.50 per m2
RP23 Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep) £152.92 per unit
RP24 Lined biobed plus pesticide loading and washdown area £119.77 per m2
RP25 Lined biobed with existing washdown area £66.24 per m2
RP26 Biofilters £2,026.14 per unit
RP27 Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area £35.86 per m2
RP28 Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores) £72.50 per m2
RP29 Self-supporting covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores £29.50 per m2
RP30 Floating covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores and lagoons £2.75 per m2
RP31 Equipment to disrupt tramlines in arable areas £1,500 per machine
RP32 Small leaky wooden dams £461.39 for each dam
RP33 Large leaky wooden dams £764.24 for each dam
SB1 Scrub control and felling diseased trees Between £375 and £2,424.20 per ha
SB2 Scrub control on – difficult sites Up to 80% of actual costs
SB3 Tree removal £155.17 per tree
SB4 Chemical bracken control £270.90 per ha
SB5 Mechanical bracken control £190.90 per ha
SB6 Rhododendron control Between £,500- £5,500 per ha
SM1 Training to control and manage deer Up to 100% of actual costs
SM2 Training to control and manage American mink Up to 100% of actual costs
SM3 Training to control and manage non-native plants Up to 100% of actual costs
SM4 Traps for American mink Up to 100% of actual costs
SM5 Traps for edible dormouse Up to 100% of actual costs
SM6 Use monitoring equipment to manage invasive species Up to 100% of actual costs
TE1 Planting standard hedgerow tree £19.06 per tree
TE2 Planting standard parkland tree £123.94 per tree
TE3 Planting fruit trees £28.07 per tree
TE4 Supply and plant a tree £1.72 per tree
TE5 Supplement for use of individual tree-shelters £2.43 per unit
TE6 Tree guard (tube and mesh) £3.95 per guard
TE7 Tree guard (wood post and rail) £109.64 per guard
TE8 Tree guard (wood post and wire) £132.16 per guard
TE9 Parkland tree guard – welded steel £402.73 per tree
TE10 Coppicing bankside trees £53.95 per tree
TE11 Tree surgery - £73.36 per tree when cutting limbs up to and including 20cm in diameter
- £146.72 per tree when cutting limbs over 20cm in diameter
TE12 Stump grinding £96 per stump
TE13 Creation of dead wood habitat on trees £285.58 per tree
TE14 Identification of orchard fruit tree varieties £20 per variety
TE15 Plant groups of trees in large guards £572.78 per large guard
TE16 Use tree surgery to ‘hinge’ a tree or limb into a watercourse £95.26 per tree
TE17 Tree surgery for veteran trees £488 per tree
TE18 Pruning to restore fruit trees supplement £146 per tree
VED1 Educational access visits £363 per visit
WB1 Small wildlife box £29.84per box
WB2 Medium wildlife box £55.91 per box
WB3 Large wildlife box £137.93 per box
WF1 Create a wildfire checklist £327.12 per farm
WN1 Grip blocking drainage channels £19.06 per block
WN2 Creation of scrapes and gutters £5.64 per m2
WN3 Ditch, dyke and rhine restoration £5.72 per m
WN4 Ditch, dyke and rhine creation £13.63 per m
WN7 Restoration of large water bodies Up to 100% of actual costs
WN8 Timber sluice £451.50 per sluice
WN9 Brick, stone or concrete sluice £2,901.40 per sluice
WN10 Construction of water penning structures Up to 100% of actual costs
WN11 Install temporary water storage features £7.36 per m2
WN12 Create or restore ponds up to 2 hectares £1,879.46 per pond
WN13 Manage wetland cutting supplement £1,346 per ha

Annex C: Applying for CSHT on common land or shared grazing

You must enter common land (including shared grazing) into a separate CSHT agreement.

1. How common land is defined

For CSHT, common land is defined as either: 

  • land registered as common land in a register of common land kept under Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006 (set out in schedule 5), which amends section 9(6) of the Countryside Act 1968
  • land to which Part 1 of that Act does not apply and which is subject to rights of common within the meaning of that Act

‘Shared grazing’ means communal pasture that is not registered as common land where graziers have a legal entitlement to graze. For example, a pasture used jointly by tenants. 

Any reference to common land in this section includes shared grazing.

2. Common land you can enter into CSHT 

You need to wait for an invitation for pre-application advice. Section 1.2 explains who will receive invitations first.

After you’ve received pre-application advice and completed any preparatory work, you need to wait for the RPA to invite you to apply online for a CSHT agreement. The RPA will contact you when it’s time to apply, you should not contact them to check the status of your invitation.

Receiving pre-application advice and making an application does not guarantee you will be offered a CSHT agreement.

You can enter an area of common land into a CSHT agreement if: 

  • it’s wholly located in England
  • it’s eligible for the CSHT actions you choose
  • there is sufficient management control of the common land for the duration of the CSHT agreement – section 4 of this annex: ‘Management control of common land’ explains what this means

A CSHT agreement on common land can include: 

  • a whole common
  • more than one whole common, if the areas are managed as a single grazing unit

It can also include part of a common under exceptional circumstances, if agreed with the RPA. Part-commons will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may be agreed if:

  • it’s a visibly distinct area or has a physical boundary to separate it from the rest of the common
  • the land management practices on the remaining part of the common will not affect the successful delivery of the CSHT agreement

You cannot exclude areas of a common from your CSHT application to:

  • create grazing areas for commoners who will not be part of the CSHT agreement
  • provide sacrifice areas for unsuitable supplementary feeding

You must enter common land into its own CSHT agreement. The agreement cannot include other land you own or rent that is not common land.

If the common is in an existing CS, SFI or HLS agreement, you can enter the same land into a CSHT agreement if: 

  • the land is eligible for both
  • the activities being paid for under each scheme are compatible
  • you will not be paid twice for a similar activity on the same area of land at the same time (known as ‘double funding’)

3. Check you’re eligible to enter common land into a CSHT agreement 

You must be a ‘single entity’. This means you’re: 

  • a person who is the sole beneficiary – usually a landowner who owns the whole common and has sole use and rights to the common
  • a group of 2 or more people with a formal, legally enforceable internal arrangement between them, a nominated representative and a single bank account

The internal arrangement must be :

  • fair and reflect each party in the group and their contribution to delivering the CSHT agreement
  • signed and agreed by each party in the group before the CSHT agreement can start
  • made available to the RPA as evidence the agreement is working effectively if they ask for it – for example you have minutes of recent meetings and evidence of agreed distribution of funds

Every member of the group that makes up the single entity must be registered with the RPA in the Rural Payments service and have their own SBI. This applies to anyone who will benefit from or contribute to delivering the CSHT agreement.

If an internal arrangement already exists, it must meet the minimum requirements set out in this guidance.

If an existing internal arrangement includes several commons and some of those will not be included in the CSHT agreement, you must set up a separate single entity for the common land you intend to enter into a CSHT agreement.

Natural England or the Forestry Commission cannot:

  • help you create your internal arrangement
  • be involved in any disputes about how the internal arrangement operates

You must provide the RPA with evidence of your formal internal arrangement before your CSHT agreement can start.

If there will be a group of 5 or more people involved in the CSHT agreement, you could consider establishing a formal commons association, but it’s not a requirement of CSHT.

If you choose to set up a commons association, you may need to appoint officers including a chairperson, secretary and treasurer. These officers should not be from one family or business (for example, they must have separate SBIs).

The association must effectively represent all those who have a legal and active interest in the management of the common land, these are:

  • the landowner
  • all known commons rights holders who actively exercise their rights
  • tenants or agents permitted to graze or utilise rights on behalf of others in the association
  • the people who may have a legal or active interest in managing the common land, for example the owner of the shooting rights

Where the common includes an area of SSSI, you must get SSSI consent from Natural England before you start the actions in your CSHT agreement.

4. Management control of common land 

To enter common land into a CSHT agreement, the single entity must have sufficient management control of the land: 

  • for the duration of the CSHT agreement
  • to complete the selected CSHT actions

If the single entity is a group of 2 or more people, this means: 

  • the group must take all reasonable steps to contact and consult everyone with a legal interest in the management of the common land
  • those commoners in the group must complete the actions in their CSHT agreement
  • the group must assess if they need the landowner’s consent to complete their selected actions – if consent is needed, the group must get it in writing

5. Applying as a group and setting up a single entity

It’s up to the group to decide how the new single entity is set up, but it must have:

  • a main business contact identified for the RPA (the nominated representative)
  • a bank account that’s registered with the RPA
  • a formal, legally enforceable internal arrangement between the single entity’s members setting out the parties’ responsibilities and how funds will be distributed

You should set out:

  • each person’s responsibilities
  • how to distribute payments across the group
  • how the RPA will recover funds in the event of a breach of the CSHT agreement
  • how you’ll resolve disputes within the group if they arise
  • how to deal with membership changes within the group

If the group’s selected CSHT actions require a maximum stocking level, you must consider how to deal with increases in grazing livestock numbers by anyone not involved in the CSHT agreement. Commoners who are part of the CSHT agreement will, if necessary, need to reduce their livestock numbers to keep them within the required maximum level.

You may want to include a clause in the formal internal arrangement stating that commoners involved in the CSHT agreement will, if necessary, reduce their livestock numbers to ensure stocking stays within the required maximum level.

6. Role of the single entity 

The single entity must take reasonable steps to consult with anyone with a legal interest in managing the common land before applying for a CSHT agreement and retain evidence of this. This is to make sure they: 

  • are aware of the group’s intention to enter the common land into a CSHT agreement
  • have the chance to join the group if they want to

The people with a legal interest in managing the common land include: 

  • all known common rights holders, whether they’re actively using their rights or not
  • the landowner
  • tenants (including those with leased common rights)
  • anyone who has an easement or other rights and covenants over the land, such as sporting tenants

Public engagement

The extent of public engagement required will depend on the:

  • management change which is being considered within the CSHT agreement
  • impacts that the changes may have on features of interest on the common
  • interest of local and national stakeholders

You should consult:

  • anyone with a legal interest in managing the common land
  • local authorities and councils
  • statutory bodies (for example, Natural England, Historic England)
  • National Landscapes Association, if appropriate
  • community groups and local residents
  • other relevant organisations (for example, Wildlife Trusts, Ramblers’ Association)

The group may also want to consult with local and national stakeholders if:

  • the common has not previously been in an agri-environment agreement
  • they are proposing significant changes to land management
  • the land includes features of public interest (for example, nature conservation, public access, historic sites)

It may be helpful to set up a general meeting to discuss the proposed CSHT agreement with interested parties.

Read Natural England’s publication ‘A common purpose: a guide to agreeing management on common land’ for more information on the principles of managing common land.

7. If you’re an existing single entity

A single entity may already be set up and have: 

  • an existing SFI, CS HT or HLS agreement on the common
  • sufficient management control of the common

In this case, it should be possible to extend the group’s scope to apply for a CSHT agreement on the common land. The group should use the same single business identifier (SBI) number.

There cannot be more than one single entity overseeing CS, HLS or SFI agreements on the same common land.

8. Registering your new single entity with the RPA 

A single entity must register on the Rural Payments service to get an SBI number for the group. The single entity needs to use this SBI to apply for the CSHT agreement, even if individuals have their own SBIs.

A new single entity should consider: 

  • if the nominated representative has permission to use the Rural Payments service
  • if permissions will extend to other group members

Where the land includes an area of SSSI, if new members wish to join the group and become part of the CSHT agreement, you must refer the matter to Natural England as the change may need to be covered by a SSSI consent. 

The RPA may ask for evidence of the formal internal arrangement. They will not: 

  • help with drafting the details
  • check or assure the internal arrangement or the constitution of the group
  • resolve any disputes within the group

9. Common land payment for group agreements 

There is an additional payment of £7 per hectare per year for a group CSHT agreement on common land. This is to help with administrative costs of managing the CSHT agreement. This is in addition to the payments for completing CSHT actions.

If you have an SFI and CSHT agreement on the land, you will not receive the additional common land payment for both your SFI and CSHT agreement. 

Defra will keep this payment under review.

10.Carrying out works on common land

Carrying out works on common land gives information about the type of work that requires consent from the Planning Inspectorate, exemptions and how to apply.

Annex D: Applying for woodland improvement and agroforestry actions

You must have received an invitation to receive pre-application advice and worked with your Forestry Commission woodland officer before you can apply for woodland actions in CSHT.

You can apply for CSHT action CWD2: Woodland improvement and associated woodland supplemental actions to support the sustainable management of woodland in line with the UK Forestry Standard. You can also use other species actions, access actions and capital items to support your woodland management objectives. 

When you need a woodland management plan (WMP) 

You must have a Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan (WMP) and associated felling licence covering all the woodland in your CSHT application. Your WMP must support the management objectives in your CSHT woodland improvement application. 

You must have an approved WMP for the duration of your CSHT agreement.

If your WMP ends before your CSHT agreement, you will need to produce a new WMP for the remaining time. You will need Forestry Commission approval for a new WMP. 

You can fund producing a WMP yourself or choose to apply for a capital grant to help pay for producing it. Read the guidance on how to apply for a WMP grant and fill in the PA3: WMP form. 

Other plans you may need to support your CSHT application 

Species management plan

You must complete a species management plan if you intend to apply for species management actions in CSHT. The plan must be approved at pre-application stage, before you can apply for CSHT. 

You can apply for a capital grant to pay for a species management plan before you receive pre-application advice. Having a plan does not guarantee you will get a CSHT agreement. 

Read the guidance on how to apply for PA7: Species management plan. You can submit your draft plan using the relevant species template when you’ve got your PA7 agreement.

Feasibility study or implementation plan 

You will need to provide a feasibility study or implementation plan for CWS9: Manage woodland for flood and drought mitigation supplement and CSP2: Rewetting supplement to demonstrate the application site has potential to provide suitable hydrology to deliver the intended environmental outcomes. 

You can apply for a capital grant to pay for this. Read the guidance on how to apply for PA2: Feasibility study or PA1: Implementation plan before you fill in the application form. 

How to amend an existing WMP 

Your existing WMP may not support your CSHT application because it does not:

  • accurately reflect the current woodland management objectives
  • address the current constraints and threats affecting woodland management
  • comply with the current UKFS standard
  • reflect new actions and supplements available – read the WMP checking guidance for more information

You may be able to amend your existing WMP. Read Section 8 of the Creating a woodland management plan guidance. 

Eligible area and value thresholds for CSHT 

To be eligible for CSHT, the total area of woodland in your application must be at least 0.5ha. The total area for the application can be made up of separate blocks of woodland but the minimum block size must be 0.5ha. If you are making a mixed application for both agri-environment and woodland actions, the 0.5ha minimum woodland block size still applies.

Your land parcels must be declared with an eligible land use code if you apply for CSHT woodland improvement.

Woodland improvement action and supporting woodland supplements

CWD2: Woodland improvement: 

  • Annual payment: £127 per ha – or a minimum payment of £500
  • Action duration: 10 years

CWD2 is an amended version of CSHT action WD2. 

Changes include: 

  • reducing the minimum application size to 0.5ha
  • increasing the agreement length to 10 years

CWS2: Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) supplement:

  • Annual payment: £275 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This supplement supports the restoration and management of plantations on ancient woodland (PAWS).

CWS2 is an amended version of the CSHT woodland supplement WS2: Plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) – restoration and maintenance 

You must use this supplement with CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as: 

  • supplement CWS8: Manage native woodland including Ancient Semi-Natural Woodlands
  • supplement CWS5: Improve woodland resilience

CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands supplement: 

  • Annual payment: £144 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This supplement supports the management of native woodland including ancient and semi-natural woodlands. You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. 

You cannot use it on the same area as:

  • CSW2: Manage and restore PAWS supplement
  • CSW5: Improve woodland resilience supplement

CWS5: Improve woodland resilience supplement:

  • Annual payment: £202 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This is a new supplement that supports management activities to increase: 

  • the mixture of tree species
  • structural diversity in woodlands
  • resilience to current and future threats arising from climate change

You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as:

  • CWS2: Manage and restore PAWS supplement
  • CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands

CWS10: Manage 2-zone rides supplement:

  • Annual payment: £60 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This new supplement supports the management of 2-zone rides in woodland to maintain a diverse ride structure and provide habitat corridors for wildlife. You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as CWS11: Manage 3-zone rides supplement. 

CWS11: Manage 3-zone rides supplement:

  • Annual payment: £197 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This new supplement supports the management of 3-zone rides in woodland to maintain a diverse ride structure and provide habitat corridors for wildlife. You must use this supplement with base action CWD2: Woodland improvement. You cannot use it on the same area as CWS11: Manage 2-zone rides supplement. 

Species management actions and supplements you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

CWS1: Deer control and management: 

  • Annual payment: £105 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This action supports the management of deer where they are causing harm to priority species and habitats. 

This is an updated action of the CSHT woodland supplement WS1: Deer control and management. You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CWS3: Grey squirrel control and management:

  • Annual payment: £60 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This action supports the management and reduction of the impact of invasive non-native grey squirrels. It is an amended version of the CSHT woodland supplement WS3. You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CSP9: Support for threatened species supplement:

  • Annual payment: £204 per ha
  • Duration: 5 years

This supplement’s aim is to create and maintain specific habitat features to enhance the value for priority species and support an increase in their population.

Invasive plant species control and management 

CSP13: Invasive plant species control and management (lower rate)

CSP14: Invasive plant species control and management (medium rate) 

CSP15: Invasive plant species control and management (upper rate) 

Annual payments:

  • lower rate: £140 per hectare
  • medium rate: £230 per hectare
  • upper rate: £380 per hectare

Duration: 5 years

These actions support the control of invasive non-native plant species that are harmful to the environment. You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for these actions. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan.

CSP20: Edible dormouse control and management:

  • Annual payment: £40 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This new action supports the control and management of invasive edible dormice that: 

  • cause damage to trees and orchards by stripping bark
  • compete with hole-nesting birds for nest sites
  • prey on eggs and nesting birds

You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CSP21: Mink control and management:

  • Annual payment: £99 per 100m of the waterbody where mink are present
  • Duration: 10 years

This new action supports the control and management of invasive non-native American mink where there is evidence, of predation on species, such as: 

  • ground nesting birds
  • domestic wildfowl
  • amphibians
  • fish

You must have an approved species management plan before you can apply for this action. You can apply for a capital grant to help pay for the plan. 

CSP3: Bracken control supplement:

  • Annual payment: £232 per ha
  • Duration: 5 years

This updated supplement supports control and management of bracken. This includes: 

  • controlling the spread of existing dense stands of bracken
  • removing the stands to allow underlying vegetation to develop and spread

CSP12: Rhododendron control and management supplement: 

  • Annual payment: £256 per ha
  • Duration: 5 years

This new supplement supports the control and management of rhododendron by removing it or stopping it from spreading or re-establishing.

Access actions you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

The aim of access actions with woodland improvement is to provide open access, new and improved footpaths and bridleways to:

Heritage actions and supplements you can use with CWD2 

CWS7: Manage historic features in woodlands supplement:

  • Annual payment: £943 per ha (based on the footprint of the feature)
  • Duration: 10 years

This new supplement supports the management of historic features in woodlands, especially scheduled monuments.

CHS6: Maintain designed or engineered waterbodies:

  • Annual payment: £2,512 per ha per year
  • Duration: 5 years

Water actions and supplements you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

CSP2: Rewetting supplement:

  • Annual payment: £181 per ha per year
  • Duration: 5 years

This supplement supports actions to reverse artificial drainage and restore natural hydrological conditions to enhance or restore wet woodland habitat. 

CSW22: Connect river and floodplain habitats supplement:

  • Annual payment: £1,242 per ha per year
  • Duration: 10 years

This supplement supports actions to improve the connection between the river (stream channel) and the floodplain to encourage out-of-bank flows during a flood event.

This is an ambitious action that will encourage natural processes to deliver dynamic vegetation change on the floodplain creating a varied mosaic of wetland habitats including wet woodland.

You can only do this action if you have a river restoration plan agreed with Natural England. 

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

CWS9: Manage woodland for flood and drought mitigation supplement:

  • Annual payment: £56 per ha
  • Duration: 10 years

This new supplement supports the management of water flow in woodland to retain water on site through enhanced soil infiltration and within constructed water features. You must use this supplement with action CWD2: Woodland improvement. 

Wildfire supplements you can use with CWD2

CES6: Maintain features for wildfire management (fire belts) supplement:

The aim of this supplemental action is to maintain fire belts to disrupt the movement of wildfires across woodland.

Duration: 10 years 

Annual payment: £861 per hectare (ha) per year

CUP18: Manage features for wildfire management (fire and fuel breaks) supplement:

The aim of this supplemental action is to maintain firebreaks or fuel breaks to create a gap in vegetation or combustible material to help slow or stop the progress of wildfire.

Duration: 10 years

Annual payment: £137 per hectare (ha) per year

Agroforestry actions 

CSHT actions to support the maintenance of agroforestry based on the sensitivity of the land.

When you need an agroforestry plan 

 You must have an agroforestry plan approved by the Forestry Commission if you are applying for CSHT Agroforestry actions. The plan must include all the agroforestry trees in your application. It will help you set out what you need to do when creating or managing your agroforestry system. 

You can apply for capital grant PA4: Agroforestry plan to help pay for your plan. 

CSHT actions available for agroforestry

The aim of these actions is to help you manage your agroforestry system at an agreed density, spacing, and arrangement of trees, as identified in your PA4: Agroforestry plan. They are all 10-year actions. 

To be eligible for these actions, your in-field agroforestry system must contain established trees at any stage of maturity, including newly planted saplings if they’ll be left to become mature trees. You must grow fruit trees on semi-vigorous or vigorous rootstocks, which usually produce trees at least 4m tall. 

For agroforestry systems with a density between: 

Capital items 

You can apply for some capital items to support woodland improvement.

You can apply for woodland improvement actions and capital items on the same land if they are compatible and not being used to fund the same work. You can apply for capital items with CSHT actions at the same time in the same application service.

You can also apply for all of these capital items as standalone grants. You can apply for these grants separately but you’ll need to apply through the relevant capital grants scheme. 

You should check the requirements for all capital items on the capital grant finder.

Capital items you can use with CWD2: Woodland improvement 

Capital items you can use for agroforestry

When planting any trees, their protection is an important consideration. When using capital items AF1 and AF2, you must ensure trees are planted with basic protection, such as individual tree shelters.

Other items that can be used in agroforestry:

Use the Capital grant finder to check if there are other items you can use with these capital items, such as FG15: Water gates with FG1: Fencing.

Capital item supplements you can only use with other capital items

Capital item supplements you can only use with other CSHT actions

CWD1: Woodland creation maintenance payments

CWD1: Woodland creation maintenance payment is a CSHT multi-year action to support the maintenance of newly created woodland resulting from a CS Woodland Creation Grant agreement.

You must have completed and claimed for proposed tree planting under your Countryside Stewardship Woodland Creation grant before you can carry out this action. You will be invited to apply for the 15-year CS Woodland Creation Maintenance agreement (CWD1) when the capital works are complete and claimed for. You will need to submit a map showing the area of tree planting completed under the CS Woodland Creation agreement at the time you submit your application.

You cannot apply for any other CSHT actions or capital items under this agreement

You can still apply to create woodland through the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). Annual maintenance payments for EWCO are available. Read the EWCO Grant Offer for more information.

Agreement maps 

You must produce an agreement map for every CSHT woodland improvement application.

You can create your own agreement map using GIS software or use the Forestry Commission’s map request form. 

You must create 2 copies. You must show your actions on one copy and show the environmental features on your holding on the other copy.

If you use the Forestry Commission map request form, you can highlight any existing Environmental Stewardship agreements on the land parcels you want included in a CSHT agreement. The Forestry Commission will discuss what you’re eligible to apply for if you provide this information. We will carry out more detailed eligibility checks throughout the application process. 

The woodland action CWD2 is only available for established woodland. To make sure this requirement is met land must be both: 

  • fully established – your woodland officer will check this during their site visit – we expect trees in newly planted woodland to be at least 15 years old to qualify
  • no longer receiving either Farm Woodland Payments, Farm Woodland Premium Scheme or Farm Woodland Scheme

In established woodland, if there is a live multi-annual England Woodland Grant Scheme agreement on the land, you should speak to your Forestry Commission woodland officer to confirm whether the land is eligible to be included in your application. 

You will submit your application online – follow the guidance in section 12: ‘How to apply’. You must provide agreement maps to support your application. Reply to the email inviting you to apply to attach these maps.

Minimum mapping standards for your agreement maps

Your agreement maps must meet the minimum mapping standards. 

You must submit high quality, colour maps

On your map, you’ll need to: 

  • make sure it has a clear key, including areas of CWD2 and capital items
  • make sure that your land parcel numbers are clearly shown
  • mark up using black ink
  • write the 6-figure Ordnance Survey (OS) grid reference for the centre of the map on the bottom left of the map if there are no numbered OF grid lines
  • clearly show the scale of the map

You must: 

  • colour in the proposed area of CWD2
  • show the location of additional actions and supplements
  • mark the locations of capital items using a coloured pen
  • mark fence lines and label the fence code you are applying for
  • mark the specific locations where you’ll carry out work, such as, ride management or coppice management
  • specify the work, for example, mowing 2 or 3-zone rides

Your map can show a mixture of information but must be clear and easy to read. If there is too much information, use an additional map (or more if required). You must include all of the CWD2 elements on the map that are included in your application. 

For example: 

  • ride creation or management – show where each type of ride will be created
  • open space creation and management – mark up new areas clearly
  • veteran trees identification and management – plot the location of trees and the management you’ll carry out
  • areas of thinning or regeneration felling – show where you will fell trees

Write on the top right corner of each map: 

  • your SBI
  • the business name (this is the name registered with the SBI in the Rural Payments service)
  • application name and date

Cross though any mistakes and do not use correction fluid. 

You will be responsible for providing updated maps following any agreed changes to the proposed annual or capital items. 

When you submit your annotated map(s), it is your responsibility to make sure that areas marked on the maps are accurate and agree with the details of your application. We will identify any mapping discrepancies through our environmental outcome site visits and checks.

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