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GS1

Take small areas out of management

CS Higher Tier open_in_new View on RPA Website

£333.00

per hectare · yearly

info Summary

This Countryside Stewardship option (GS1) provides year-round habitat and food for wildlife by taking small areas of permanent grassland, up to 0.5ha each and limited to 20% of total permanent grassland, out of management, with restrictions on cutting, grazing, and chemical inputs.

format_list_bulleted What to do

  • Leave a small area of grass (no more than 0.5ha) un-grazed and uncut.
  • Do not cut or graze more frequently than one year in every 5.
  • Do not operate machinery or carry out other activities during the bird breeding season.
  • Do not apply any fertilisers, manures, or lime.
  • Do not use pesticides, except for spot-treating or weed-wiping injurious weeds or invasive non-natives.
  • Do not locate this option next to another area under the same option.
  • If there is more than 1 area, do not cut or graze all areas in the same year.
  • Do not use this option more than once in every 5ha of permanent grassland in your application.

schedule When to do

  • Maintain the un-grazed and uncut state to provide habitat year-round.
  • Cut or graze no more frequently than one year in every 5.
  • Avoid operating machinery or other activities during the bird breeding season.

checklist How to do

  • Only cut or graze one year in every 5 (it is acceptable to leave these areas uncut and un-grazed for the full length of the agreement).

description Evidence Required

Where there’s uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

  • Field operations at the parcel levels, including associated invoices
  • Stock records to show grazing activity on parcels

tips_and_updates Additional Advice

  • Achieve better results by scattering areas of longer vegetation widely across the landscape, close to other habitat features, using a mosaic approach.
  • This option can form part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to prevent pests, weeds, and diseases.
  • Connect habitats wherever possible to allow wildlife to move freely and adapt to environmental changes.

View Official Guidelines

Access detailed information about this action on the RPA website

open_in_new Visit RPA Website

info Additional Information

GS1: Take small areas out of management

How much will be paid

£333 per hectare (ha)

Where to use this option

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier on whole and part parcels on:

  • permanent grass
  • corners and small areas within permanent grassland fields

Where this option cannot be used

On historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environmental Record (HEFER) or Farm Environment Record (FER)

Related Mid Tier options

You can locate the following options and supplements on the same area as this option.

How this option will benefit the environment

It provides year-round habitat and food for a range of wildlife within grass fields.

Aims

If you’re selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.

There will be a small area (no more than 0.5ha) of grass which is left un-grazed and uncut. This will provide tall grass tussocks with abundant flowering plants during the summer and dead seed heads by the autumn and winter.

Prohibited Activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities:

  • cut or graze more frequently than one year in every 5
  • operate machinery or carry out other activities during the bird breeding season, they may disturb breeding birds or damage nests
  • apply any fertilisers or manures
  • apply any lime
  • use pesticides, except for herbicides to spot-treat or weed-wipe for the control of injurious weeds or invasive non-natives, soft and hard rush, nettles or bracken
  • locate the option next to another area under the same option
  • cut or graze all areas in the same year if there is more than 1 area
  • use this option more than once in every 5ha of permanent grassland in your Mid Tier or Higher Tier application

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

Recommended management

To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you employ best practice.

We recommend that you:

  • only cut or graze one year in every 5 (it is acceptable to leave these areas uncut and un-grazed for the full length of the agreement)

Keeping records

Where there’s uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

  • Field operations at the parcel levels, including associated invoices
  • Stock records to show grazing activity on parcels

Additional guidance and advice

The following advice is helpful but is not a requirement for this item.

Using the mosaic approach

Better results will be achieved when the areas of longer vegetation are scattered widely across a landscape and located close to other habitat features, in a mosaic approach.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

This option can form part of an IPM approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases. If successful, appropriate and within proximity of cropped areas, these may limit the need for the use of Plant Protection Products and enhance wildlife and biodiversity on your holding. Read information on IPM at AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Integrated Pest Management and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).

Biodiversity

This option has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply. [HEFER]: Historic Environment Farm Environmental Record [FER]: Farm Environment Record

Questions about GS1?

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