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5 yearsÌý

How much you’ll be paidÌý

£157 per hectare (ha) per yearÌý

Action’s aim  Ìý

The aim of this supplemental action is that you make field-dried hay to allow wildflowers and grasses to flower and set seed.ÌýÌý

The purpose of this is to:Ìý

• help to conserve plants in traditionally managed hay meadowsÌý

• provide pollen and nectar for bees and other insectsÌý

• improve water qualityÌý

• maintain traditional landscape characterÌý

Where you can do this actionÌý

You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land with any of the following Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) base actions:Ìý

• CGS26: Manage grassland with very low inputsÌý

• CBE4: Manage traditional orchardsÌýÌý

• CBE5: Create traditional orchardsÌýÌý

• CGS22: Manage priority habitat species-rich grasslandÌýÌý

• CGS21: Manage grassland for target habitats, species or featuresÌý

• CWD22: Manage wood pastureÌýÌý

• CWD21: Restore wood pasture and parklandÌýÌý

• CWD20: Create wood pastureÌýÌý

• CGS20: Manage wet grassland for breeding wadersÌý

• CGS19: Manage wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowlÌý

Your Natural England adviser will agree with you what other supplemental actions may be needed to meet the intended environmental outcomes. This could include:Ìý

• CSP1: Difficult site supplementÌý

• CSP16: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (50-80%)Ìý

• CSP17: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)Ìý

• CSP2: Rewetting supplementÌý

• CSP5: Shepherding supplement (non-moorland)Ìý

• CSP6: Cattle grazing supplement (non-moorland)Ìý

• CSP7: Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly supplementÌý

• CSP9: Support for threatened speciesÌý

• CSW26: Enhanced floodplain storage supplementÌý

Eligible landÌýÌý

Same as base action.Ìý

Available area you can enter into this actionÌý

Same or less than the base action.ÌýÌý

Rotational or static actionÌý

Same as base action.Ìý

What to doÌý

Your Natural England adviser will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document. Ìý

To get paid for this action, you must:   Ìý

• make field dried hay by turning and wiltingÌý

• remove all cuttingsÌýÌý

• graze the aftermath or take a second cut if grazing is not possibleÌý

The advice you’re given from Natural England is specific to your land which means (where relevant) you may also need to:Ìý

• leave an uncut margin around the edge of the field as a refuge for invertebrates and small mammals – you can rotate this uncut areaÌýÌý

• remove livestock for an agreed period of time before cuttingÌý

• not cut or top before agreed dates for 1 year out of 5 yearsÌýÌý

You must not cut hay before the end of June, or at a later date agreed with your Natural England adviser.Ìý

When to do itÌý

You must do this action each year of its duration.Ìý

Evidence to keepÌý

You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if they ask for it.Ìý

Consents, permissions and licensing requirementsÌý

To apply for this action, you’ll need:Ìý

• from Historic England for any work on scheduled monumentsÌý

• consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)Ìý

You may need to:Ìý

• agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviserÌý

• get a wildlife licence from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitatÌý

• get advice from your Forestry Commission woodland officer or Natural England adviser if you have other historic or archaeological features on your agreement landÌý

All historic and archaeological features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).  Ìý

If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent. Ìý

Capital grants to support this actionÌý

If you need to complete an implementation plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for capital grants plans funding.ÌýÌý

You can also apply for capital items to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser will discuss eligible capital items with you.

Advice to help you do this actionÌýÌý

The following optional advice may help you to do this action. Your agreement document will set out all the activities you must do.ÌýÌýÌý

When to use this supplementÌý

You can use this supplement to make hay on any type of grassland, as long as haymaking will achieve the aims of the action and you are making field-dry hay. Haymaking is best suited to land receiving no, or low inputs of nutrients and species rich grassland.Ìý

Cutting hayÌý

‘Shut up’ meadows by removing all livestock no later than mid-May, or the date set out in your agreement.Ìý

When you cut will be determined by your location and the type of grassland habitat and will be set out in your agreement. This will be after 30 June in the lowlands and after 12 July in severely disadvantaged areas but can be later if your grassland supports particular species.ÌýÌý

When cutting hay:Ìý

• turn or ‘ted’ the hay at least once after cuttingÌý

• leave the hay to dry for at least 48 hours before baling – this allows wildflower seeds to dropÌý

• bales can be wrapped or unwrappedÌý

Grazing hay meadowsÌý

You can use aftermath grazing to add variety to the sward and improve hay meadow biodiversity.Ìý

Graze from late summer until autumn – this will normally start around 6 weeks after cutting. Exact timings will depend on the growing season and ground conditions at different sites.Ìý

You should remove livestock before the average sward height falls below 5cm or when the ground is too wet. This will help prevent damage from poaching.Ìý

Responding to climate change Ìý

Read Natural England’s publication:  to help you consider your general response to climate change. You must continue to follow the mandatory activities for this CSHT action.