GS1: Take small areas out of management

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the take small areas out of management option.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
3 August 2022 — See all updates
Grant type:
Option
Land use:
Air quality, Biodiversity, Grassland, Uplands, Water quality and Pollinators and wildlife
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier and Offer: Lowland Grazing
Funding (per unit per year):
£301 to £400

How much will be paid

£333 per hectare (ha)

Where to use this option

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier on whole and part parcels on:

  • permanent grass
  • corners and small areas within permanent grassland fields

Where this option cannot be used

On historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environmental Record (HEFER) or Farm Environment Record (FER)

You can locate the following options and supplements on the same area as this option.

How this option will benefit the environment

It provides year-round habitat and food for a range of wildlife within grass fields.

Aims

If you’re selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.

There will be a small area (no more than 0.5ha) of grass which is left un-grazed and uncut. This will provide tall grass tussocks with abundant flowering plants during the summer and dead seed heads by the autumn and winter.

Prohibited Activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities:

  • cut or graze more frequently than one year in every 5
  • operate machinery or carry out other activities during the bird breeding season, they may disturb breeding birds or damage nests
  • apply any fertilisers or manures
  • apply any lime
  • use pesticides, except for herbicides to spot-treat or weed-wipe for the control of injurious weeds or invasive non-natives, soft and hard rush, nettles or bracken
  • locate the option next to another area under the same option
  • cut or graze all areas in the same year if there is more than 1 area
  • use this option more than once in every 5ha of permanent grassland in your Mid Tier or Higher Tier application

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you employ best practice.

We recommend that you:

  • only cut or graze one year in every 5 (it is acceptable to leave these areas uncut and un-grazed for the full length of the agreement)

Keeping records

Where there’s 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 levels, including associated invoices
  • Stock records to show grazing activity on parcels

Additional guidance and advice

The following advice is helpful but is not a requirement for this item.

Using the mosaic approach

Better results will be achieved when the areas of longer vegetation are scattered widely across a landscape and located close to other habitat features, in a mosaic approach.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

This option can form part of an IPM approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases. If successful, appropriate and within proximity of cropped areas, these may limit the need for the use of Plant Protection Products and enhance wildlife and biodiversity on your holding. Read information on IPM at AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board) Integrated Pest Management and LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).

Biodiversity

This option has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change. 

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 3 August 2022 + show all updates

  1. Update to Prohibited Activities section: final bullet point to clarify the option cannot be used more than once in every 5ha in the Mid Tier or Higher Tier application

  2. New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

  3. Additional guidance and advice section updated - this option can form part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to prevent the establishment of pests, weeds and diseases.

  4. 'Air quality' added to Land use.

  5. Option updated for agreements starting 1 Jan 2022

  6. The Requirements and Keeping records sections of this page have been updated.

  7. Updated for 2017 applications.

  8. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  9. First published.

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