Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to protect water quality and benefit wildlife by converting areas within arable fields which are prone to flooding, run-off and / or soil erosion, to low-input grassland.

This will provide year-round cover, which will increase soil organic matter, improve soil structure, reduce surface run-off, and protect against soil erosion and the subsequent risk of water pollution. Flowering plants within the grass will also benefit wildlife.

Land that has been in arable cropping for all of the last five years is eligible.

You should not include areas of land covering rocks, scree, water, dense bracken etc. We will check this using the same approach we use to check land for the Basic Payment Scheme.

Assessing your land eligibility

You must combine this capital item with one of the following management options:

• Converting Arable Land at Risk of Erosion or Flooding to Low-input Grassland
• Management of Floodplains

Capital items required for wetland creation can be added as standalone items

You must provide evidence that converting the land will benefit water quality, or alleviate flood risk.

You must also identify on a map the location of the proposed area to be converted to grassland.

• you must sow the area with a low productivity grass mix to establish a new sward. The mix must include at least four flowering species to benefit pollinating insects
• you must establish the sward by 1 June in the first year of your contract
• you must maintain a diary

You can claim £333.51 per hectare.

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work
• you have sown the area with a low productivity grass mix to establish a new sward. There may be an invoice check to ensure the correct grass sward mixture has been sown
• you have established the sward by 1 June in the first year of your contract
• you have maintained a diary

Supporting guidance is available for this item.

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