Checklist of requirements for applications

Date published: 4 December, 2023

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

This page provides a summary of the information that must be submitted before the submission deadline as part of an Agri-Environment Climate Scheme application. Missing documents may make your application ineligible.

It should be read in conjunction with:

This list is not exhaustive and you will need to check the requirements of your specific application to determine which supporting documentation is required.

Note: When you start the online application process, you will see that the ‘supporting documents’ screen lists certain documents required for your application and asks you to confirm the method by which you are supplying the documents e.g electronically uploading the documents or providing them by post or directly to the local area office

Each document listed on the supporting document screen must be supplied. Other documentation not listed should also be supplied where it is pertinent to the application e.g. the submission of a Collaborative Management Plan, where applicable.

Further details on how to upload a document can be found in the Online Application guidance found on the How to Apply page.

If you are unable to provide any of the documents below for reasons beyond your control please contact RPID before the submission deadline to make them aware of the difficulty (taking a note of the method of contact, officer alerted to issue, date and time).

Note that for some items below you must use the template provided in the relevant webpage.

Online data entry (LPIDs, lengths, areas, etc)

Farm Environment Assessment (FEA) - nearly all applications require the items below. Please read the FEA guidance carefully to find out which items you need. Note that these items must show the current situation and not simply be copies of versions submitted with an earlier application.

  • Farm Environment Map
  • Farm Management Map
  • Farm Environment Table

  • Diffuse Pollution Field Map (can be incorporated in Farm Environment Map)
  • Diffuse Pollution Table (can be incorporated in Farm Environment Table)
  • Diffuse Pollution Management Map (can be incorporated in Farm Management Map)
  • Certain water quality options require the following:
    1) A Diffuse Pollution Steading Assessment Map
    2) A Diffuse Pollution Steading Management Map
    3) A Diffuse Pollution Steading Management table

All moorland applications require the following:

  • Moorland Management Plan (using the latest template provided). This MUST include an updated, detailed habitat condition assessment of the moorland habitats and must show how this is influencing proposed management.
  • Map or maps showing current condition and extent of moorland habitats, at an appropriate scale
  • Map of access routes and supplementary feed sites where relevant
  • Map or maps showing where the proposed management activities will take place
  • Heft map if applicable
  • Flock records must be submitted at the time of application if applying for Away wintering or Stock Disposal
  • Returning applicants must submit their last years AECS Management Diary pages for all LPIDs that were funded for Moorland management showing the full years grazing

Other moorland plans maps and records may be required (using the templates provided):

  • Muirburn and Heather Cutting Plan and MapOnly Heather Cutting is available for support in AECS 2024. However, if you plan to undertake muirburn at your own expense on a designated site within your AECS application area, during the lifetime of the AECS contract, you must submit a Muirburn Plan, so that there is a record of where and when work will take place and, to allow the case officer to assess whether this is appropriate to the site. You can only carry out muirburn on an SSSI if you have NatureScot consent. For non-designated sites, you must provide detail within the Moorland management plan of any muirburn you intend to undertake at your own expense within the AECS application area. All heather cutting requires a plan.
  • Peatland Restoration Plan and Map
  • Bracken Management Plan and Map - where mechanised or manual treatment is proposed
  • Deer Management Plan
  • Predator Control Plan and Map - for returning applicants you must submit the last 2 years Predator Control reports from your expiring contract.
  • Flock records (if applying for Stock Disposal or Away wintering)

Note: The Moorland Management option webpage has examples of maps and plans.

Other plans/maps required are listed below but you must also check the requirements for the individual options and capital items that you are applying for. If a plan is required there is a template link on the option/capital item page.

  • Wader Management Plan
  • Wader survey form, if applicable
  • Grazing Management Plan
  • Hedgerow Management Plan
  • Lowland Raised Bog Management Plan
  • Scrub Control Plan
  • Chough Management Plan
  • Cropped Machair Management Plan
  • Bracken Management Plan and Map*
  • Grass Strips in Arable Fields – summary template
  • Water Margins – summary table
  • Predator Control Plan
  • Invasive Plants Management Plan
  • Rhododendron Control Plan
  • Rotation map of arable / grassland options (if too complex to show on management map
  • Ditch Blocking Plan

  • There are specific plan or map requirements for some capital items. Please refer to the individual capital item webpages.

*Note: Chemical control of Bracken is no longer funded through AECS following the decision by the manufacturers of Asulam not to pursue authorisation for the chemical in the UK.

  • Completed Endorsement Form containing an endorsement from NatureScot if you are proposing to carry out options or capital items outwith their target areas – see targeting tool page and Endorsements guidance. Endorsements are only available for certain options or where the work is required to benefit the notified features of a designated site. You should submit the endorsement request form to NatureScot at least a month before the application deadline.
  • Completed Endorsement Form containing an endorsement from NatureScot if applying for the Species-rich Grassland Management or Habitat mosaic management option on hill or upland rough grazing land. Again you should submit the endorsement request form to NatureScot at least a month before the application deadline, along with a habitat survey report as explained in the endorsement page.
  • Any consents and licences received from regulatory authorities, where applicable
  • Ecological survey report for protected species where relevant
  • Letter of approval from NatureScot or Scottish Environment Protection Agency if required as part of the eligibility requirements of a capital item
  • If you are applying for any actual cost capital items, you must submit a Quotations table and the quotes received and also the specification that you provided when seeking quote (for full details of requirements please see Quotes section in 'Further requirements for applicants'
  • if your application is part of a collaborative project you must submit the Collaborative Management Plan (CMP) and collaborative maps, as provided to you by the person leading the collaborative project – see scoring guidance.
  • To score points for supporting vulnerable species, the Vulnerable Priority Species Recording Form must be submitted and the required capital items and management options applied for - see Vulnerable Priority Species supporting guidance.
  • Where wader options are being adopted, including a full wader survey undertaken by a NGO/Project Officer/Ecologist within the last 5 years will score additional points. Please note this is optional.
  • Copy of advice received from NatureScot which helped you to put together your Deer or Peatland proposals.

  • Note that you will need Approval from your planning authority, under the Prior Notification and Prior Approval process if you propose to restore peatland through ditch blocking. You will need to obtain this approval before an AECS contract can be issued. Therefore, due to the time this process can take, we advise you apply to your local authority as early as possible.

Crofting applicants may also need to provide some of the following:

If you are a grazing clerk, applying on behalf of a grazing committee, your application must include the following supporting information:

  • the written consent of a majority of the crofters with shares in the common grazing
  • evidence that notice of the intention to submit an application and the proposed division of the grant amongst the eligible crofters has been issued by the grazings committee or constable to all shareholders sharing in the common grazings

If you are an official sub-tenant of a croft which falls within the jurisdiction of the Crofting Commission:

  • a copy of the letter issued by the Crofting Commission confirming the approval of the sub-let and its duration – this is an acceptable alternative to the landlord declaration or copy of the lease - see Occupancy of land guidance

Applicants need to consider additional requirements and provide the following at the time of application or as specified:

All Organic Conversion applications

  • Farm Map showing the LPIDs to be converted
  • Organic Viability Proposal endorsed by an organic certification body
  • For organic conversion applications that also include agri-environment options or the organic maintenance option, you will have to submit the required supporting documents for those management options.
  • For organic conversion application that also include agri-environment options, you should ensure the options are compatible – see Double funding and option incompatibility page
  • To be allocated extra points against the ‘National Priority’ scoring criteria at least 25 per cent of your permanently held land will have to be managed under the ‘organic conversion’ option

Organic conversion applicants also need to note the following:

You must liaise with your organic certification body to ensure you are compliant with the organic requirements before you apply to AECS, before you commence organic conversion and for the duration of your AECS contract. If your AECS application is successful:

1. Your organic certification body will require you to submit to them a full conversion plan for approval, prior to your organic start date

2. Your organic start date must be approved by your organic certification body before you commence conversion, but also refer to the AECS Organic Farming conversion requirements

3. Once you have received your official letter confirming your organic start date from your organic certification body, you should forward this to your local Area Office.

All Organic Maintenance applications

  • Farm Map illustrating the LPIDs to be maintained under organic status
  • valid Organic certificate
  • Current Organic Schedule of LPIDs from your organic certification body
  • If your organic maintenance application also includes agri-environment options or organic conversion of additional land, you will have to submit the required supporting documents for those management options.
  • If your organic maintenance application also includes agri-environment options, you should ensure the options are compatible
  • To be allocated extra points against the ‘National Priority’ scoring criteria at least 75 per cent of your permanently held land will have to be managed under the 'organic maintenance' option

Applications for Slurry Storage require:

  • Manure & Slurry Management Plan
  • Steading Drainage Assessment Plan.

Rural Development: Agri-Environment Climate Scheme full guidance