Complete your application form, annexes and maps

This section tells you how to fill in your CS Wildlife Offers application form, annexes and supporting maps.

Step 1 – Start your application form

If you’ve received the pack by email – after you’ve saved it to your computer, fill in the form on your screen.

If you’ve received the pack by post:

• use black ink and CAPITAL LETTERS. Do not use pencil or felt-tip pen

• do not cross through whole pages or remove pages

• do not use correction fluid. Correct mistakes and initial and date them.

Completely fill any checkbox containing a mistake and put a cross or a tick in the correct box.

You must sign your application if you are submitting a paper application by post.

Front Page

Confirm which type of agreement you are applying for:

• Arable Offer

• Lowland Grazing Offer

• Mixed Farming Offer

• Upland Offer.

Enter an Agreement title, for example, the farm name or what the land is commonly known as.

Your application ID is pre-populated. If this is blank, contact us for help.

Section 1: Application details

Fill in this section with your details.

1.Your SBI is already pre-populated.

2.(a) Fill in (a) with the name of the applicant. This should be the same as the name on the ‘Start Here’ tab in the Annex.

If (b) ‘Business name’ is pre-populated, check that the Business name and SBI are for the correct business.

Fill in (c) and (d) with the main contact name and business name if these are different to the applicant at a) and the printed business name at b).

Please contact us immediately with any changes to your contact information at (c) and (d). Please make any other change in the Rural Payments service.

Fill in (e) (f) and (g) with the main contact landline number, mobile number and email address.

Section 2: Farm business details

Read Section 3.2 ‘Management control, eligibility and scheme rules’ in the Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers manual.

3.(a) Confirm whether you have management control of all the land in the application for the entire length of the proposed agreement and can meet the Declaration and Undertakings in Section 3. If ‘Yes’ go to Question 4. If ‘No’ go to Question 3 (b).

(b) Fill in a ‘Countryside Stewardship Land Ownership and Control’ form with each person who would take over your responsibilities if you cease to have management control over any of the land. This would normally be the landlord or another person with management control. Confirm you’re including them with your application then go to Question 3(c).

Get a copy of the Countryside Stewardship Land Ownership and Control form on GOV.UK.

If you cannot get online, call us to ask for a paper copy.

(c) Confirm if any of the counter signatories are a Public Body, for example, local authorities, National Park authorities, public corporations. If ‘Yes’ go to Question 3 (d). If ‘No’ go to Question 4.

(d) Include a copy of your tenancy agreement with your application, so that we can make sure your application is valid. Confirm you have done this.

4.Obligations of your tenancy agreement to carry out environment management cannot be funded by Countryside Stewardship. Tick ‘Yes’ to confirm that this application is not seeking funding for these activities.

5.(a) Read section 3.3.1 in the Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers manual on GOV.UK.

Tick ‘Yes’ at (a) if someone else is claiming for BPS on any land parcels in this application. Then tell us if you are the landlord or tenant at (b).

IMPORTANT - if you’re also applying for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) – check whether any land parcels you’ve added to your application are also in your BPS application.

Continue your application through Steps 2 and 3 before you complete the declaration on your application form at Step 4.

Step 2 – Your Farm Environment Record (FER) map(s)

If you received a combined FER/Options map, you should photocopy it or print 2 copies. Use one copy to show your farm environment features and areas, as explained in this section (and the other copy to show your options, as explained at Step 3.)

Your FER map must show all the land parcels you’re including in your application. The FER map does not need to cover the whole holding but it must include any land parcels that have proposed multi-year options (permanent or rotational) and any proposed capital items.

You must mark on the FER map:

• any land parcels in your application that are at moderate to high risk of runoff or soil erosion

• all environmental features and areas in the land parcels in your application

• all land parcels under your SBI that will be used for rotational options during the whole 5 year period of the agreement

• all Scheduled Monuments (SM) within your control under your SBI.

There is an obligation to retain features mapped in the FER map and protect them from damage or removal for the duration of the agreement.

If you have a FER map from a previous Environmental Stewardship agreement and there has been little or no change to the environmental features on your land, you may be able to use that map (updated as necessary, as explained under ‘Mark your environmental features and areas on your map’).

If you do not have a FER map from a previous Environmental Stewardship agreement or there have been changes to the environmental features on your land, mark them on a copy of the FER map included in the application pack.

Remember that cross compliance requirements apply across the whole holding.

Land parcels with ‘moderate to high runoff and soil erosion risk’

Before you complete the FER, you should consider whether any of your land is at risk from surface runoff and soil erosion. You must do this for all of the land parcels on the holding. The risk assessment should be based on inherent risk, proximity and connection to a waterbody, such as a pond, lake, ditch, stream or river and on managed risk.

To do this use the assessment form on GOV.UK, search for Runoff and soil erosion assessment: Countryside Stewardship. Or use the guidance below.

Inherent Risk

Focuses on the risk of pollution associated with the topography, soils and naturally occurring land conditions. Inherent risk can be greatly reduced if the management and use of that land is done in a way sympathetic to the natural limitations. For example, a field of great inherent risk due to slope and soil texture might be of only moderate importance if that field were to be under woodland or extensive grassland management.

Factors to consider when defining the inherent risk include:

• soil texture (risk of detachment or poor infiltration)

• steepness of slope angles and slope length should be assessed to determine the relative overall risk of an area of land

• flooding frequency: land that floods is susceptible to erosion and runoff, particularly when under cultivation.

This runoff may carry very fine soil particles, soluble pollutants such as plant nutrients and pesticides or manures to watercourses. The observed water runoff is usually, but not always, discoloured. The following detail is a guide to field classification for risk of runoff based on slope.

Soil type – all soils

Steep slopes greater than 7° (greater than 12.3% gradient) – High runoff risk

Moderate slopes 3° to 7° (5.25 to 12.3% gradient) – Moderate runoff risk

Gentle slopes 2° to 3° (3.5 to 5.25% gradient) – Lower runoff risk

Slope length, soil texture and flooding frequency must then be considered, and risk class adjusted accordingly. For example, lighter soils on moderate slopes may be at high risk of runoff leading to soil erosion. Land that floods regularly (inundated at least 1 year in 3) must be regarded as being at high risk of erosion and runoff (even at less than 2° slope).

Proximity and connection to a waterbody

Must be considered. Fields that pose a relatively high inherent risk for producing pollution may actually be less significant if those fields are not well connected to a watercourse or waterbody. This means, the risk may need to be increased or decreased depending on the closeness or connection to a waterbody.

For example:

• fields directly adjacent to a watercourse or waterbody are likely to increase the risk and likelihood of pollution. Also, there may be increased risk where drains, ditches, tracks or other flow paths directly connect a field to a watercourse, waterbody or sensitive aquatic habitat.

• where there is at least one field between this field and a watercourse or waterbody and there are no flow pathways, the risk is unlikely to be higher than moderate.

Little connection between this field and the waterbody decreases the risk of pollution and this is likely to lower the risk class.

Managed risk

Is primarily defined by land use and history of runoff and pollution problems on that field.

Signs of surface water runoff that may be associated with each of the risk classes are described below:

• high Risk Areas – runoff or ponding seen in most years during wet periods

• moderate Risk Areas – runoff seen in some years during wet periods and in most years during very wet periods

• lower Risk Areas – runoff seen in some years during very wet periods.

The criteria given for the risk assessment are guidelines and professional judgement should be used to upgrade or downgrade a site, taking into account additional factors such as:

• soil structure (sensitivity to compaction, detachment and transport)

• organic matter content (higher organic matter content usually increased infiltration)

• valley features which tend to concentrate runoff water

• long unbroken slopes (150m or longer)

• rainfall (intensity relative to infiltration)

• land use.

Using the risk assessment you must now mark on the FER, in brown hatching, all fields that have been identified as at moderate or higher risk of surface runoff and soil erosion.

Mark your environmental features and areas on your map

You need to mark all of your environmental features and areas on the FER map(s) (as shown in the map key). Walking your holding will help you see which land parcels are suited to Countryside Stewardship options. This may also help you to identify where to mark the environmental features on your FER map(s). Your Environmental Information map (EIM), also included in your application pack, may indicate features that you need to mark on your FER map(s).

Make sure your FER map(s) are clear and accurate.

If you want to use a previous Environmental Stewardship (ES) FER map, consider the need for any updates (see below) and decide whether the updated map would be clear and understandable. For former ELS/HLS agreements the combined FER/FEP map may contain significant information not required for CS. If this is the case, you may prefer to complete a new CS FER map.

Use the colours on the FER map’s key. Confirm that you have a feature by marking the corresponding blank symbol on the right side of the map key with the coloured pencil you have used to mark that feature.

You must submit the completed map(s) as part of your application.

Please read the specific information below for the following features.

Marking ‘boundaries with trees’

Only boundaries with, on average, one or more eligible trees for every 100 metres need to be marked as ‘boundaries with trees’.

For example, a hedgerow of 400 metres would need to have at least four eligible trees along its length. Eligible trees are those that are native species, standing within 1 metre of a hedgerow and over 30 centimetres diameter at chest height.

These boundaries should be marked with a green cross over the boundary line, as shown in the FER map’s assigned colour key (in-field trees still need to be counted and marked as shown in the key).

If you are using a FER map from an earlier ES agreement and it shows the number of hedgerow trees, you do not need to change it.

Marking hedges

On accepting a CS agreement you will be agreeing that you will not cut more than 50% of hedges in any one year. This is a scheme baseline requirement that covers all hedges in Mid Tier and Higher Tier agreements. It covers all hedges marked on the FER map which meet the following CS hedge definition:

‘Any planted boundary lines of shrubs (a woody plant where the distance between the ground and the base of the leafy layer is less than 2 metres) which are over 20 metres long and less than 5 metres wide (between major woody stems at the base) and are composed of at least 80% native shrubs’.

This does not apply to road and trackside hedges that need to be cut annually or more frequently for public safety.

To mark the cutting regime of the hedges on the FER map you will need to use two different types of marking as indicated in the FER map’s assigned colour key, as detailed below:

Hedgerow (meets 50% annual cutting limitation). These hedges are managed as the baseline requirement of the scheme – no more than 50% of these hedges are cut in any one year. This includes hedges that are included in CS capital or revenue options and therefore have specific management prescriptions. These specific prescriptions should be followed by the Agreement Holder and checked on inspection, rather than the baseline requirement.

Hedgerow (exempt from the cutting limitation). For hedges that need more regular cutting to maintain public safety.

Updating an Environmental Stewardship (ES) FER map

If you are using a FER map from an earlier ES agreement, you must check that it is up to date before submitting it with your CS application. If the ES FER map does not include all the land parcels in your application, you must update your CS FER map for those new land parcels as explained at 3) below.

Please check and update it as follows:

1.On the ES FER map:

• strike out any land on the ES FER map that is not to be included in the CS application

• add any new features not showing on the ES FER map (for example, a new pond)

• identify any hedgerows that are exempt from the 50% annual cutting limitation, by marking them using the symbols indicated on the CS FER map key.

2.Compare the new CS FER map key with your existing ES FER map key:

• if there are any features listed on the CS FER map key that are not on the ES FER map key mark them on the ES FER map, using the symbols given in the CS FER map key. (Some earlier ES FER maps did not include earth banks, scrub, bracken, boulders and rocky outcrops).

3.On the CS FER map, mark the environmental features and soil erosion risk on any new land parcels not included in the ES FER map.

4.Sign and date the updated ES FER map, to confirm it is complete and accurate. If you have made any annotations to the CS FER map, you will need to include both the ES FER and CS FER maps with the application.

The updated map(s) must be clear and understandable. If we find that a FER map is not clear and understandable, we will not be able to accept it.

Step 3 – Your options map(s) and your options annexes

We suggest you complete the annexes and the options maps alongside each other. This means you can add your option in the annex then immediately mark it on the map as you go along.

Before you start:

• Options – choose these using the guidance in Section 5 ‘The Wildlife Offers’ in the Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers manual on GOV.UK. Read more information about individual options in Countryside Stewardship grants also on GOV.UK’.

If you have any land parcels containing Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), you are not eligible to apply for a CS Wildlife Offer. Contact us to request a Mid Tier application pack instead. For contact details read ‘More information and contacts’ in this guide.

• Options map – if you receive one combined FER/Options map, you should photocopy it or print 2 copies. Use one to show your options as explained in this section (and the other to show your farm environment features and areas, as explained in the previous section.

• Options annex – if you receive your application pack by post and do not have enough space to add all of your options to the data sheet table in an annex, create continuation sheets by photocopying the relevant annex before you use it.

• If you cannot print or photocopy, please use your own continuation sheet(s), and make sure you include all of the information required in the related data sheet.

Please call us if you have any issues printing or photocopying.

Complete the CS options map

For each CS non-rotational option you want to include, complete the CS Options map(s) as follows:

• mark every instance of the option using the appropriate colour in the Options map key

• write the option code, using a black pen, on or against the option in each place where you have marked it on your Options map(s)

• Do not use correction fluid on the maps as this will make them invalid.

Take care to measure option lengths or areas and then calculate values accurately as errors may lead to your payment being reduced and penalties being applied.

Double-sided hedges – add the hedge twice, mark it on both sides of the boundary. This is only allowed where both sides of the boundary are mapped in the Rural Payments service. If one side has not been mapped, you are only allowed a single sided hedge.

Complete the application annexes

IMPORTANT - if you’ve received your application pack by email, the annexes are an excel spreadsheet. The land parcel information is pre-populated in Annex 1. The information you choose at Annex 1 pre-populates again for you to choose from in Annex 2 where relevant.

Click on the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

If you’ve received your application pack by post, the annexes are paper. The information should be pre-populated in Annex 1. However, you must write all other information relating to your application onto the annexes.

Before adding the options to the application, the land selected must meet the basic requirements for the offer. For example, for an Arable offer, the land use for each land parcel must be arable or temporary grassland.

When adding the options you must meet the requirement outlined for each offer in the Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers manual, Section 5. For example, for an Arable offer, you must choose at least 3 options.

Add all of the options you want to apply for under this application. For information about options read ‘Countryside Stewardship grants’ on GOV.UK.

You can also read the scheme manual on GOV.UK, search for ‘Wildlife Offers’.

You must fill in the first 3 tabs in the Annex.

You must begin with the ‘START HERE’ tab and then complete Annex 1 tab. When you have completed Annex 1 you need to complete the Annex 2 tab. This is important because the land parcel information you choose at Annex 1a pre populates again for you to choose from in Annex 2 where relevant, to save you time. The tabs are:

• ‘START HERE’ – The SBI and Application ID are pre-populated. Fill in the name of the applicant. This should be the same as the name at question 2a on the application form

• Annex 1 – Land summary

• Annex 2 – Options.

(The detail in the Application summary’ tab is for information only. Read Step 5 for more information.)

Annex 1: Land summary

Complete Annex 1 with your land parcel details for all applications.

You must check that this annex has been pre-populated with all of the land parcels registered to your SBI.

If you find that some of your eligible land parcels are not shown in this annex, check whether they are shown on the map(s) in your application pack. If they are shown on the map(s), add the details of the land parcel to this annex. If they are not shown on the map(s) contact us.

Delete any land parcels that you do not want to include in your application. (Highlight the row of information for that land parcel and press delete.)

IMPORTANT - make sure you include any land parcels that:

• you’re using for rotational arable options during the whole period of the agreement

• contain Scheduled Monuments (SM) within your control under your SBI, even if you are not applying for options on them.

The SBI and the first 3 columns are pre-populated.

You must fill in the annex as explained below.

OS Map Sheet Ref/National Grid no.

This is pre-populated. It is the Ordnance Survey (OS) Map sheet reference and National Grid field number. It must contain a 10-character reference, made up of 2 letters, 4 numbers and the final 4 numbers indicating the centre of the land parcel (for example, LP12345678). We need the whole reference to identify the land parcel.

Parcel name

This is pre-populated, but you can amend it. This is the name of the land parcel (if it is known by one) to help you identify it. If you do not have a name for your parcel, repeat the field parcel reference. There must be either a name for each land parcel or a parcel reference in every row under ‘Parcel name’.

Total land parcel size (ha)

This is pre-populated with the total area of the land parcel, based on the area registered in the Rural Payments service.

LFA Status

This is pre-populated. Use the key at the top of the annex to check the information in this column. If the information in a box is wrong, click into the box, click the dropdown arrow, then choose the code for the relevant ‘less favoured area’ from the list.

Will rotational options be included on this parcel?

For each land parcel confirm whether there are rotational options on the land parcel at any point during the period of the agreement. Click into the box in this column, then click the small dropdown arrow that appears to confirm ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. If you do not confirm ‘yes’ in this annex then you will not able to choose a rotational option for this land parcel in the Options tab. Do not delete any land parcels that support rotational options during the period of the agreement.

Runoff/soil erosion risk?

For each land parcel confirm whether or not there is a moderate to high risk of run off or soil erosion. Click into the box in the column, click the dropdown arrow, then confirm either ‘Yes’, or ‘No’.

For more information about runoff/soil erosion read Step 2 – Your Farm Environment Record (FER) map(s).

Land use code for land not declared or claimed for BPS (if applicable)

You do not need to fill in the land use code for every land parcel in your Wildlife Offers application if you are applying for BPS in the same year. However, you must fill in the land use code for any land parcel in your Wildlife Offers application that is not included in your BPS application. The land use codes for the land parcel must be compatible with the options you are applying for in your Wildlife Offers application.

A list of land use codes is on GOV.UK, search for Rural Payments: land guidance.

Annex 2: Options

Use Annex 2 to add any options to your application.

You require pre-approval for the use of some options. Read more information in the Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers manual, search for Countryside Stewardship on GOV.UK.

Important: if you’ve received your application pack by post, the annexes are paper. You will need to write in all required information onto the annexes.

If you received an application pack by email Annex 2 is an excel spreadsheet.

Land Parcel details

Parcel name

For each land parcel, click into the box in this column, click the dropdown arrow, then choose the relevant ‘Parcel name’ from the list. The relevant information will appear in the ‘Field Parcel’ and ‘Total land parcel size (ha)’ columns.

Field parcel

The information in this column comes from Annex 1 and appears automatically when you choose the ‘Parcel name’.

Total land parcel size (ha)

The information in this column comes from Annex 1 and appears automatically when you choose the ‘Parcel name’.

Option details

Rotational or Non-rotational option?
For each land parcel confirm whether the option is rotational or non-rotational. Click into the box in this column, then click the small dropdown arrow that appears to confirm either ‘Rotational’ or ‘Non-rotational’.

Do not delete any land parcels that support rotational options during the period of the agreement.

Option

For each land parcel choose the option you want to apply for. Click into the box in this column, click the small dropdown arrow, then choose the option from the list.

Unit

The unit the option is measured in will appear automatically when you choose an option in the previous column. For example, tonne, metres or hectares ‘ha’.

Quantity

Enter the number of units you’re applying for. Do this to 4 decimal places for tonnes and hectares ‘ha’, and whole numbers for metres.

Payment details

Payment rate

This is the value of each unit for the option you’ve chosen. It appears automatically when you fill in the ‘Option’ column.

Value

This is the value for the number of units you’ve entered. It appears automatically when you fill in the ‘Quantity’ column.

Step 4 – Continue your application form

Section 3: Declaration and undertakings

Complete this section to confirm that you have read and understood the requirements of the Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier scheme, which includes the Wildlife Offers, and the undertakings that you are making when submitting your application.

• Read the declaration, undertakings and warning carefully.

• Sign in the box and enter your name in block letters, your capacity (for example, sole trader, company director, agent) and the date you’re signing the application.

• If you’re submitting your application by email you do not need to sign the application in this section.

• Before you submit your application, make sure you have the correct permission levels in the Rural Payments service.

For information about permission levels in the Rural Payments service search for Rural Payments: registering and updating your details on GOV.UK.