GS8: Creation of species-rich grassland

How much will be paid

£646 per hectare (ha).

How long this option lasts

This option lasts for 10 years, instead of the standard 5 years for the grant scheme.

Where to use this option

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier on whole or part parcels, only on arable, set-aside or temporary grassland that has high or medium potential for the creation of priority habitat (if it has medium potential, you will need written support from Natural England).

Features that can be included in this option

You can include the following features if they are part of the land, even if they are permanently ineligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS):

• ditches, dykes, drains, rivers or streams that are less than 4m wide for the majority of their length in the parcel
• temporary water
• permanent water less than or equal to 0.1ha, at the discretion of Natural England)
• natural unsurfaced roads, tracks, paths and bridleways (as long as you can still carry out the requirements of the option)
• bracken
• scree, rock outcrops and boulders up to 0.1ha
• grazed woodland and scrub that has grass underneath it and that livestock can access, at the discretion of Natural England
• small areas of other habitat types, such as reedbeds, at the discretion of Natural England

How this option will benefit the environment

It will create priority grasslands and establish a wide range of important plant species. Many other priority species, such as bumblebees, butterflies, birds or bats, will also benefit, and buried archaeological features will not be disturbed.

Requirements

You will probably need to:

• establish a flower rich grassland in the first year
• maintain it as permanent grassland
• maintain a range of plant heights suitable for invertebrates, birds or other priority species
• manage the grassland by grazing, hay cutting, or a mixture of both
• maintain a continuous cover, particularly over historic features
• use very little or no manure, fertiliser, pesticide or supplementary feed
• maintain scrub, rushes and other potentially dominating plants at the levels set out in the agreement
• control undesirable plants (these can be specified in the agreement)

You must have a detailed implementation timetable to create the grassland. This should set out how you will create it, including details of the varieties and quantities of seed or plant material you will use and where they’ll come from, and how you will manage the grassland after you have introduced the seeds or plants.

Do not:

• plough, cultivate or re-seed after the grassland has been successfully established, unless agreed with Natural England
• harrow, roll or allow scrub or bracken to encroach on historic or archaeological features
• carry out activities that may disturb breeding birds or damage nests

Keeping records

On your annual claim you must declare that you have not carried out any activities prohibited by the option requirements.

You must keep the following records and supply them on request:

• receipted invoices, consents or permissions connected with the work
• field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
• a standard soil analysis carried out in the last 5 years. The rules for farmers and land managers to prevent water pollution already require farmers and land managers to carry out soil testing on cultivated agricultural land - you can use these test results to meet the record-keeping requirements for this option
• inputs used
• any sites grazed will require a grazing activity record
• photographs showing any areas where sward enhancement will be carried out
• confirmation that eligibility requirements have been met
• photographs of the management undertaken

The detailed requirements for this option will be tailored to the Higher Tier site. You should discuss and agree these requirements with your adviser.

Related options

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

• BE3 - Management of hedgerows
• GS15 - Haymaking supplement
• OR1 – Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland
• OT1 – Organic land management – improved permanent grassland
• SP2 - Raised water level supplement
• SP4 - Control of invasive plant species supplement
• SP5 - Shepherding supplement
• SP6 - Cattle grazing supplement
• SP7 - Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly
• SP8 - Native breeds at risk supplement
• SP9 - Threatened species supplement
• WT3 - Management of ditches of high environmental value

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this option

The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.

How to choose a site

This option works best on infertile soils where the soil phosphorus index (as shown by the soil analysis) is low, and the sward and soil seedbank are not dominated by aggressive plant species or injurious weeds.

Species-rich grassland can sometimes be created by natural regeneration (possibly by adding extra plant species) or, much more commonly, through cultivating and sowing an agreed seed mix.

This option will normally be targeted at sites that are next to or close to existing species-rich grasslands.

How to manage the site

The requirements for this option will be tailored to the site, but in most cases you will need the following:

• appropriate livestock (which will often be cattle), over which you have full control
• consideration of how best to manage associated features such as ditches and scrub
• capital works to support this option (for example, to increase the number of plant species, use option FM2 - Major preparatory works for priority habitats (creation and restoration) and priority species

Upland calcareous and other very extensively managed grassland, especially in large parcels, may not be accepted for this option. Such grassland may be eligible for other options, such as:

• GS13 - Management of grassland for target features
• GS14 - Creation of grassland for target features

Once the grassland has become a priority habitat, it may be eligible for option GS6 - Management of species-rich grassland.

Additional guidance and advice

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 Higher Tier including how to apply.