Guidance

CSHT application checklist

Published 10 September 2025

Applies to England

You must read the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) applicant’s guide before you apply.

You may find it helpful to use this checklist to make sure you’ve completed all the steps in the application process. Each step is explained in the CSHT applicants’ guide.

1. Wait for your invitation 

✔	You’ve been invited by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) to receive pre-application advice from Natural England or the Forestry Commission.

2. Get pre-application advice 

✔	Accept the invitation to confirm you’re ready to start the pre-application process.

✔	Work with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer to identify suitable actions and capital items. Check if you need any supporting plans (such as species management or agroforestry plans).

✔	Woodland applicants: complete a woodland improvement pre-application form.

3. Check eligibility

✔	Confirm you are a farmer, forester or land manager and you have management control over your land for the duration of an agreement.
✔	If you’re a tenant, check you are able to apply for CSHT and your tenancy extends for the duration of a CSHT agreement, or you have your landlord’s written consent and commitment to complete the agreement.
✔	Confirm your land is entirely in England and meets CSHT eligibility criteria.

4. Prepare any required plans 

✔	Apply for capital grants to help prepare plans if needed.
✔	Complete and get approval for any required plans before applying.
✔	Include these plans in your application.
✔	Woodland applicants: you must include a woodland management plan.

5. Register and check your details 

✔	Register with the Rural Payments service.
✔	Make sure your contact details are up to date.
✔	Make sure land parcels are correctly mapped and registered.
✔	Set permissions so you (or your agent) can apply.

6. Select actions and capital items agreed with your adviser

✔	Select actions using the Find funding for land or farms tool.
✔	Select capital items using the Capital grant finder tool.
✔	Make sure selected actions or capital items are compatible with other schemes and do not result in double funding.

7. Apply online 

✔	Following adviser checks, wait to be invited to apply.
✔	Follow the 4 steps in the online application.
✔	Provide supporting documents by attaching and replying to your invitation email.

8. Get any necessary consents or licences 

✔	Check if you need consents or licences (such as Scheduled Monument Consent, site of special scientific interest (SSSI) consent, planning permission, wildlife licences, or tree felling or abstraction licences).
✔	Get consent before starting any work.

9. After submitting your application

✔	Wait for your agreement offer from the RPA before you start work.
✔	Accept the agreement offer and note the start and end dates.
✔	Notify the RPA of rotational action updates.
✔	Make sure you complete your annual declaration to get paid.
✔	Claim for capital items separately.
✔	Keep records and evidence of work under your agreement for at least 7 years.