Guidance

How to do the SFI action for moorland

Find out how you could do the SFI action for moorland.

• From: Rural Payments Agency
• Published: 10 August 2023

Applies to England

It’s up to you how you complete each SFI action, as long as you do it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve the action’s aim (which is described in each action).

This voluntary guidance includes advice on how you could assess moorland and produce a written record (MOR1).

You may find it helpful to read this guidance, but you do not have to follow it. The requirements you must follow for each SFI action are explained in the ‘Details of the SFI actions’ which you can find in either:

• section 2 of the SFI handbook
• the webpage versions of the details of the SFI actions

How to assess moorland and produce a written record (MOR1)

What you’re aiming to achieve

The aim of MOR1 is that you understand how your moorland contributes to providing environmental benefits and how it could provide more in the future.

Assessing your moorland and producing a written record

MOR1 requires you to complete a survey to identify, assess and record the soil, vegetation and historic and archaeological features across the moorland entered into this action.

This action also requires you to use the information you’ve collected during your survey of the moorland to identify and record:

• environmental benefits the moorland is already providing

• opportunities to maintain, enhance or restore the moorland to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more

You can choose how to complete the assessment and produce the written record required by MOR1. There is no standard format.

You can record your survey on paper or digitally. It may also be helpful to take photographs of the vegetation you assess and the surrounding area.

When to do the survey

The best time to survey moorland is between mid-July and the end of October. This avoids the main bird breeding season (March to mid-July).

Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law, so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay the survey until the birds fledge.

Try to avoid doing the survey after periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Selecting your sample points

Divide your moorland into blocks of around 10 hectares (ha). If possible, try to make the blocks equally-sized.

To do this, you may find it helpful to use:

• a paper or digital Ordnance Survey (OS) map that’s a scale of 1:10,000 or 1:25,000 which shows contours – you can overlay the OS map with a grid to divide the moorland into, for example, 200 metres (m) x 500m rectangular blocks

• the MAGIC website (this link opens a map with the moorland line layer shown in purple) – you can zoom in to a scale of 1:25000 or 1:10000 to see 10ha squares covering all land within the moorland line, each with a unique reference number

Within each 10ha block, select 3 sample points which you can safely access to complete the survey each year of your 3-year SFI agreement. You can do this by:

• dividing the 10ha block into 3 smaller areas

• selecting a sample point within each of the 3 smaller areas that broadly represents the main soil types and vegetation within the 10ha  block

• giving each sample point a number on the OS map, so you can identify where your observations were taken

What to survey at each sample point

At each sample point, MOR1 requires you to identify, assess and record:

• soil types and condition, including the depth and wetness of any peat

• vegetation types and condition, including their height and structure

• the extent of bare ground

• the presence of historic and archaeological features, as identified in your SFI Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (SFI HEFER)

Record the number you’ve given the sample point on the OS map, and take a short walk around to confirm:

• the main soil types and vegetation broadly represent the surrounding area

• it’s safe to survey – if it’s unsafe, choose another sample point within the 10ha block, unless the whole 10ha block is unsafe in which case record that and move to the next block

The guidance below covers what to survey for a wide range of moorland features on different soil types. Some of these may not be relevant to the moorland you’re surveying. What you need to survey at each sample point will depend on the features, including soil type and ground cover, on your moorland.

What you can survey for all soil types

For all soil types, you can identify, assess (where relevant) and record the following at each sample point:

• presence of peat in the soil and its depth to indicate whether the soil type is non-peat (including minimal peat), shallow peat or deep peat

• extent of bare ground

• extent of soil erosion

• roughness of ground surface

• presence of historic or archaeological features

• presence of additional features such as trees, scrub, bracken, drains, gullies, rock and scree

You can find more information below on:

• how to assess each of these aspects

• what that assessment means for the environmental benefits the moorland is already providing

Presence and depth of peat

To assess the presence and depth of peat, you can use a thin rod or cane to probe the soil. It would be helpful to mark it with 5 centimetres (cm), 10cm, 25cm, 30cm and 40cm from its base.

Push it vertically into the soil until you feel resistance or to a depth of more than 40cm. If it meets resistance at a depth of:

• less than 5cm, record the soil type as non-peat

• between 5-40cm, record the soil type as shallow peat

• more than 40cm, record the soil type as deep peat

If there is existing data available on presence of peat and its depth, this can be used as an alternative to probing the soil.

Avoid probing the soil on areas where there are historical or archaeological features, as identified in your SFI HEFER.

Extent of bare ground

Bare ground is prone to erosion and can emit CO² to the atmosphere as organic matter decomposes. Minimal bare ground helps protect against this.

To assess the extent of bare ground, look at the overall position across the sample point and record if there are:

• mainly large, obvious patches of bare peat or soil – you can also record that this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon storage)

• small patches (less than around 20cm) of bare ground amongst thin or newly established vegetation – you can also record that this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (carbon storage)

• no obvious patches of bare peat or soil – also record that this means environmental benefits (carbon storage) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Extent of erosion

Obvious signs of erosion include rills and gullies on exposed areas, particularly if they’re linked to water bodies. Erosion features could include vehicle tracks and footpaths. These concentrate water flow, for example, on steep slopes.

To assess the extent of erosion, look at the overall position in the area around the sample point and record if there are:

• large obvious patches of actively eroding bare peat or soil – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (clean water)

• small obvious patches of bare peat or soil – you can also record that this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (clean water)

• no obvious patches of bare ground or erosion – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (clean water) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Roughness of ground surface

If the ground surface is rough this helps to slow the flow of water by holding it back from watercourses. This allows more water to evaporate or infiltrate the soil.

To assess the roughness of the ground surface, walk around the sample point and record if there is:

• smooth grass, bare ground or carpet moss – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (storage and flow of water)

• no or sparse bare ground, with at least the occasional hummocks of moss – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (storage and flow of water)

• frequent hummocks of moss or tussocks or grass or bracken – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (storage and flow of water) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Presence of historic or archaeological features

Use your SFI HEFER to identify historic or archaeological features on, under or around the sample point. Also, record any such features that are not in your SFI HEFER that you know of, or observe.

Record any risks to the condition of the historic or archaeological features, such as:

• the presence of any trees, scrub or bracken on or next to the feature

• any activity by livestock on or next to the feature that disturbs the soil, causes erosion or compacts the ground

• land management practices that disturb the soil, cause erosion or compact the ground, such as use of vehicle tracks or heavy machinery

• burrowing animals, such as badgers or rabbits

Presence of additional features

There may be additional features around the sample point that could affect the environmental benefits the moorland provides. You can record these as part of your survey if, for example, they’re within around 100m of the sample point.

These additional features could include:

• trees and scrub – you can record these as none, scattered trees/saplings and/or scrub, dense scrub, woodland or a mix of trees/scrub/woodland

• bracken – you can record this as none, more than 50% canopy cover with some litter, more than 50% canopy cover with dense litter

• drains and gullies – you can record these as none, channels mainly bare along base, channel base more than 50% vegetation, channel is blocked

• rock and scree – you can record as none, rock outcrops (for example, crags and tors), scree and boulder fields, limestone pavement.

Additional features you can survey for peat soils

In addition to what you can survey for all soil types (explained above), for peat soils (shallow or deep) you can assess and record:

• wetness of peat soils

• presence of peat-forming bog mosses

• range of peatland plants

These are described in more detail below.

Wetness of peat soils

The wetness affects the peat soil’s capacity to store carbon.

To assess the wetness, visually assess the area and use the thin rod or cane you used to assess the presence and depth of peat to record if there is:

• dry or firm peat, because no peat sticks to the thin rod or cane – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon storage)

• moist peat, because the area looks damp on the surface and the thin rod or cane is moist when removed from the peat – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (carbon storage)

• wet peat, because there’s standing water or water appears when you press the peat with your foot – you can also record that this is already providing environmental benefits (carbon storage) which can be maintained

Presence of peat-forming bog mosses

Bog mosses hold water and are very important to the formation of peat.

To assess the presence of peat-forming bog mosses, look at the overall position across the sample point and record if they are:

• absent or sparse – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon capture, clean water, water storage and flow, biodiversity)

• present in patches – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (carbon capture, clean water, water storage and flow, biodiversity)

• abundant – you can also record that this means that environmental benefits (carbon capture, clean water, water storage and flow, biodiversity) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Range of peatland plants

In addition to bog mosses, moorland peatland is characterised by the presence of a range of other peatland plants. Drier peat will usually have a lack of other wetland plants such as cotton-grass, cranberry and crowberry.

To assess if other peatland plants are present, look at the overall position for the sample point and record if there is:

• vegetation dominated by heather, bilberry, grass, bracken or moss (not bog moss) – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (biodiversity)

• mix of heather, bilberry, grass and mosses, with no clearly dominant vegetation – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (biodiversity)

• an abundance of peatland plants, such as cotton-grass, bog moss, cranberry and crowberry – you can also record that this means that environmental benefits (biodiversity) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Additional features you can survey for non-peat soils

In addition to what you can survey for all soil types (explained above), for non-peat soils (including minimal peat) you can assess and record:

• the average height of tall or woody vegetation, such as heather, other dwarf shrubs, gorse, other scrub and scattered trees

• the average height of tall or deep-rooted vegetation, such as tall, tussocky grasses and bracken, dwarf shrubs such as heather, scrub and scattered trees

• the structure of grassy and non-grassy vegetation

Average height of tall or woody vegetation

On non-peat soils, the presence of taller, woody vegetation contributes to carbon storage on the moorland. Tall, woody vegetation will usually be heather, other dwarf shrubs, gorse, other scrub and scattered trees.

To assess the height of tall or woody vegetation, you can use a thin rod or cane. You may need to do this in a few places to give you an average across the sample point. It would be helpful to mark the thin rod or cane with 5cm, 10cm, 25cm, 30cm and 40cm from its base.

Record if there is:

• bare ground or vegetation mostly below around 10cm – you can also record this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (carbon capture)

• vegetation mostly below around 30cm – you can also record this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (carbon capture)

• vegetation mostly over around 30cm – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (carbon capture) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Average height of tall or deep-rooted vegetation

On non-peat soils, the presence of tall or deep-rooted vegetation slows the flow of water over the ground. Tall or deep-rooted vegetation will usually include tall and tussocky grasses and bracken, as well as dwarf shrubs such as heather. It may also include scrub and scattered trees.

For tall or deep-rooted vegetation, you can measure the average height of live plants using a thin rod or cane. You may need to do this in a few places to give you an average across the sample point. It would be helpful to mark the thin rod or cane with 5cm, 10cm, 25cm, 30cm and 40cm from its base.

Record if there is:

• bare ground or vegetation mostly below around 5cm – you can also record that this is an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (water storage and flow)

• vegetation most below around 25cm – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (water storage and flow)

• vegetation mostly over around 25cm – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (water storage and flow) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Structure of grassy and non-grassy vegetation

On non-peat soils, the structure of either grassy or non-grassy vegetation can affect how the moorland provides habitat for different species.

Depending on to the vegetation at your sample point, you can assess either:

• grassy vegetation, where there is over 75% grass or herb cover

• non-grassy vegetation, where there is over 25% cover of dwarf shrubs, and it does not fit the description of grassy vegetation

You may need to do this in a few places to give you an average across the sample point.

You can use a thin rod or cane to assess the height of grassy or non-grassy vegetation. It would be helpful to mark it with 5cm, 10cm, 25cm, 30cm and 40cm from its base.

For grassy vegetation, record if there is:

• uniform short vegetation less than 5cm – you can also record this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (biodiversity)

• mostly shorter vegetation shorter than 10cm – you can also record that this is an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (biodiversity)

• a mix of heights with a variation of at least 10cm between tall and short patches – you can also record that this means environmental benefits (biodiversity) are already being provided, which can be maintained

For non-grassy vegetation, record if there is:

• vegetation of a similar height – you can record this as an opportunity to restore environmental benefits (biodiversity)

• a mix of vegetation heights, with tussocks or tall vegetation over 30cm - you can record this as an opportunity to enhance environmental benefits (biodiversity)

• a wide range of vegetation heights including some tall vegetation over 50cm – you can record that this means environmental benefits (biodiversity) are already being provided, which can be maintained

Identifying environmental benefits provided by the moorland

MOR1 requires you to use the information you’ve collected during your survey of the moorland to identify and record:

• environmental benefits the moorland is already providing

• opportunities to maintain, enhance or restore the moorland to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more

These environmental benefits include:

• carbon storage and capture, to offset the effects of climate change

• clean water, to maintain or enhance water quality

• water storage and flow, to reduce the effects of flooding and drought

• biodiversity, to protect plants and wildlife

• heritage, to protect historic and archaeological features

Identifying environmental benefits the moorland is already providing

For each element you’ve surveyed, and environmental benefit (listed above), you can add up the total number of sample points you recorded as already providing that environmental benefit.

For example:

• roughness of ground surface had 15 sample points recorded as already providing the environmental benefit of water storage and flow

• range of peatland plants had 10 sample points recorded as already providing the environmental benefit of biodiversity

Opportunities to maintain, enhance or restore the moorland to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more

For each element you’ve surveyed, and environmental benefit, you can add up the total number of sample points you recorded as:

• already providing that environmental benefit, which can be maintained

• having an opportunity to enhance that environmental benefit

• having an opportunity to restore that environmental benefit

For each survey element and environmental benefit, if the greatest number of sample points were recorded as already providing that environmental benefit, that can be maintained. Likewise, for opportunities to enhance or restore.

The table below shows an example of how you could do this.

Environmental benefit	Survey element	Sample points - already providing	Sample points - opportunity to enhance	Sample points - opportunity to restore	Overall assessment
Carbon storage	Extent of bare ground	13	0	0	Already providing, maintain
Carbon storage	Peat wetness	3	3	3	Enhance
Carbon capture	Tall or woody vegetation	1	2	0	Enhance
Water storage and flow	Roughness of ground surface	11	1	1	Enhance
Water storage and flow	Bog mosses	1	3	5	Restore
Water storage and flow	Extent of erosion	11	1	0	Already providing, maintain
Biodiversity	Range of peatland plants	7	2	0	Already providing, maintain
Biodiversity	Bog mosses	1	3	5	Restore
Biodiversity	Structure of non-grassy vegetation	1	3	0	Enhance

This can help you identify what potential opportunities there are to maintain or change current management practices to keep providing environmental benefits or provide more.

MOR1 does not require you to undertake any changes to management practices. At this stage, you are just considering what management practices could be done in the future.

Some examples of what you could consider doing include:

• reviewing grazing management to maintain vegetation and allow bare areas to revegetate and – this could help to reduce the extent of bare ground and provide carbon storage

• reviewing livestock management practices or managing water drainage, for example block grips and gullies, to break up waterflow pathways and reduce the amount and energy of flowing water – this could help to reduce the extent of erosion and improve water quality

• reviewing livestock or vegetation management practices to increase the average height and variation in heights of vegetation – this could help to increase the roughness of the ground surface and improve storage and flow of water

Published 10 August 2023