WN2: Creation of scrapes and gutters

This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£5.64 per square metre (m2).

How this item benefits the environment

Scrapes provide areas of bare ground, which are designed to hold water in wet habitats or provide early successional areas in dry habitats. Gutters provide shallow channels to hold or transport water through wet habitats and provide feeding areas for waders.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item with the approval of your Natural England adviser (or an adviser acting on their behalf).

You will need to get any necessary consents or permits from the Environment Agency, lead local flood authority or internal drainage board before starting any work.

You may also need to register a waste exemption or apply for a waste licence to dispose of any spoil.

You cannot use this item on historic or archaeological features, unless written approval has been given by a Natural England specialist or your local authority historic environment service.

Do not use this item to prevent soil erosion or runoff. Use the soil and water capital items instead.

What you must do to use this item

You will need to discuss with Natural England or an adviser acting on their behalf.

You will need to provide a map with your application showing where you propose creating the scrapes and gutters.

For Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, you may need to:

• agree a detailed specification or an implementation plan with Natural England for creating scrapes or gutters.
• create the scrapes or gutters in accordance with this specification
• follow the implementation plan and complete it

You should discuss and agree requirements that are specific to your site with your adviser.

Using this capital item for waders and wildfowl

If creating scrapes for waders and wildfowl, you are likely to need to:

• locate them at least 100 metres (m) away from hedges or tall trees, in the place shown in the specification
• carry out the work between July and November
• make sure the scrape has an irregular shape to maximise the length of its edge
• grade the sides of the scrape - there should be a gentle slope from shallow margins (3 centimetres (cm) to 5cm deep) to a maximum depth between 30cm and 50cm at the centre (and usually no deeper than 30cm)
• leave the surface of the scrape rough
• keep the scrape wet by using methods agreed with Natural England (or an adviser acting on their behalf)

If creating gutters for waders and wildfowl, you are likely to need to:

• create them in the places shown in the specification
• carry out the work between July and November
• make sure the gutters are no more than 30cm deep and at least 1.5m wide, with gently sloping edges, and shallow margins that are between 3cm and 5cm deep

• connect the gutters to ditches with high water levels

• keep the gutters wet using methods agreed with Natural England or an adviser working on their behalf

The agreement for this item will set out what must not be done. It’s likely you will not be allowed to:

• use spoil to fill hollows or low areas within the field or to form a bund or bank around the scrape or gutter
• place spoil on areas with high soil erosion or runoff potential
• create islands within scrapes
• carry out works when ground-nesting birds are present
• fence the scrapes and gutters
• connect the gutters to ditches if water levels cannot be held high

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

• photographs of the completed work
• implementation plan or feasibility study if required

You must also keep and provide on request:

• any consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• specification agreed with Natural England or an adviser working on their behalf
• photographs of the site before works start

Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Actions and supplements you can use with this item

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier actions

You can use this item in combination with actions that manage, restore and create habitats or features with the support of a Natural England adviser.

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

What the specification should include

Your detailed specification should:

• identify the purpose of the scrapes and gutters
• take account of site hydrology, soil type, botanical interest, archaeological and historic features, and landscape character
• specify the shape, size, depth, location, methods, timing of the work, spoil disposal and ongoing management requirements

You may need specialist advice.