HS5
Management of historic and archaeological features on grassland
£55.00
info Summary
This Countryside Stewardship action provides £55 per hectare per year for the management of historic and archaeological features on permanent grassland. It aims to maintain a well-managed grass sward with minimal bare ground, scrub, or pernicious weeds to conserve England's heritage and landscape character.
format_list_bulleted What to do
- Do not plough, cultivate, re-seed, harrow, or roll the features.
- Do not apply supplementary feed on or within 6m of the feature.
- Do not locate vehicle or stock access routes within 6m of the feature (existing surfaced tracks are permitted).
schedule When to do
- Maintain a well-managed grass sward or vegetation cover throughout the year, keeping bare ground to a minimum.
checklist How to do
- Maintain a continuous grass sward or vegetation cover to limit bare patches or erosion to no more than 5% of the features.
- Ensure scrub, bracken, or pernicious weeds cover no more than 5% of the features.
description Evidence Required
Where there is 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 level, including associated invoices
- A map of existing tracks - this can be marked on any map including the Farm Environment Record (FER)
tips_and_updates Additional Advice
- Plan drainage works to avoid damage to historic and archaeological features.
- Install access points for drains outside the feature to allow maintenance without excavation.
View Official Guidelines
Access detailed information about this action on the RPA website