Applicant's guide: Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers for agreements starting on 1 January 2024

Q: Annex 1: Terms and Conditions

See the CS Terms and Conditions 2023 .

Question 1

1.  Important dates and scheme changes

Accepted Answer

1.1 Important dates

The CS Mid Tier window for 2023 opens on 21 March 2023 and closes on 15 September 2023.

1.2 Scheme changes for 2024

The way that customers apply has been streamlined to make it simpler. The online application process makes it easier to understand what is needed for your application.

Your land must be correct in the Rural Payments service before you start your CS application. If you need to make any land updates, changes or corrections, you must submit an RLE1 form straight away. Read section 4.1.2 for more information.

The agreement duration for capital items has increased. For Mid Tier agreements starting from 1 January 2024, you now have 3 years to complete the capital works within your Mid Tier agreement.

There is no limit on the value of capital items that can be included in a Mid Tier agreement in either water or air quality, hedgerow and boundary or natural flood management priorities. Applications will be subject to a value for money assessment.

It is now easier to find management options and capital items which can improve biodiversity by filtering to ‘Biodiversity’ under Land Use on the CS grant finder. Annex 2b has a list of options and items which specifically help increase biodiversity available in Mid Tier.

Some options previously available only in Higher Tier are now available in Mid Tier to support natural flood management. This includes management options SW15 and SW16 and capital items WN2, RP31, RP32 and RP33. In addition, WD8 is now available in Mid Tier with prior approval and SW13 can be included in a Mid Tier application to support biodiversity.

CS revenue and capital payment rates have been updated.

We are applying more proportionate reductions where claims are received late. The reduction will be scaled according to how late the claim is.

The fencing specifications for FG1, FG2 and FG3 have been updated. Changes will apply to new agreements.

Land in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Scheduled Monument is now eligible for capital items, if the land is also managed in a CS Mid Tier agreement and the proposed activity has consent from Natural England.

Question 2

2.  About Mid Tier

Accepted Answer

CS Mid Tier offers grants to support activities that benefit your local environment. You can apply for a combination of grants that are most relevant to your business.

Grants are available as:

management options – multi-year agreements, payments are made every year for 5 years
capital items – a range of grants for specific, one-off capital works

You can choose CS Mid Tier grants through 2 different routes.

1. Mid Tier – choose this route for a wide range of management options and capital items. This route helps you do more to support your local environment.

Applications will remain open until 15 September 2023 unless the funding is fully allocated. Annex 3 sets out the scoring process.

2. The Wildlife Offers – choose this route for a range of management options that focus on providing habitats for farm wildlife. It’s non-competitive and is the quickest and easiest way to apply for the Mid Tier.

You can have a Mid Tier or Wildlife Offer agreement on the same land parcel as another CS or Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreement, subject to certain conditions set out in section 3.4.

If your application is successful, we will make you an agreement offer. If you accept the agreement offer, your CS Mid Tier agreement will start on 1 January 2024.

2.1 Agreement period

Mid Tier agreements, including the Wildlife Offers, last 5 years from the agreement start date. You must complete capital works within a Mid Tier agreement in the first 3 years of the 5-year agreement.

The payment amount you receive for your agreement will depend on the management options and capital items you choose and compliance with your agreement.

2.2 What grants are available

Mid Tier gives you access to a wide range of management options and capital items. You can choose those most relevant to your farm business and local environmental priorities.

Mid Tier priorities are:

wildlife and nature – restoring habitats, increasing biodiversity, providing food and nesting places, creating areas for rare flowering plants and managing hedges
air and water – making air and water cleaner, reducing the risk of flooding by encouraging changes to farming practice and improving farm infrastructure
pollinators – ensuring the right resources for wild pollinators are where they are needed most
historic environment, landscape character, genetic conservation, educational access and climate change adaptation and mitigation

There are 157 management options and capital items in Mid Tier. Use the CS statements of priorities to see what the environmental priorities are in your area.

2.2.1 Management options

You can choose management options to help you carry out any of the following environmental benefits.

1. Manage land for the benefit of local wildlife by:

providing sources of nectar and pollen for insect pollinators
providing winter food and nesting habitats for farmland birds

2. Support local priority habitats, such as:

species-rich grasslands
wetlands, rivers, streams, ponds and ditches
hedges, orchards, wood pastures and parklands

3. Manage flood-risk in your local area by:

reducing soil erosion and improving water quality

4. Convert and manage land to organic certification standards.

5. Manage and maintain landscape features such as:

traditional farm buildings
features of archaeological interest
SSSIs and Scheduled Monuments

6. Manage water and air pollution.

2.2.2 Capital items

Choose capital items to help you carry out any of the following environmental benefits.

1. Manage and maintain the boundaries on your holding including:

hedgerows
dry-stone walls
stock fencing
gates

2. Reduce water and air pollution by using capital items to:

provide hard bases for livestock drinking and feeding
provide livestock with alternative drinking sources away from watercourses and ponds
install storage tanks, lined bio-beds, and livestock troughs
improve yards, gates, culverts and tracks, to reduce soil erosion, and reduce sediment and pollution entering a watercourse
improve yards and infrastructure to reduce ammonia emissions

3. Improve natural flood management by:

installing woody debris dams, structures and seepage barriers to address flood risk management issues

2.2.3 Organic management and conversion options

You can apply for organic management and conversion options in combination with other management options, or you can make an application that only includes organic options.

The organic management and conversion options within your application are not scored. Read section 4.3.7 for further information on applications that include organic options.

2.2.4 Choosing a Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package (WPFWP)

Your farm business could benefit from a WPFWP. This package groups management options together. It will help you to provide farmland wildlife with the resources it needs to thrive and breed successfully. This package is separate from the Wildlife Offers.

If you meet the minimum criteria for the package, your score will automatically increase. You can find more information and how to apply for a WPFWP in annex 4.

See section 5 for more details about the Wildlife Offers and how to apply.

2.3 How applications are assessed

If you apply for Mid Tier options, your application will be assessed on a first come first served basis unless the funding is fully allocated. If it appears that the scheme is likely to be oversubscribed, RPA will publicise this in advance of the full funding being allocated. This will include giving 6 weeks’ notice on GOV.UK in advance of this. From the point of this notification, remaining applications will be assessed on a competitive basis with those providing higher environmental benefits given priority.

The Wildlife Offers and the organic offers are non-competitive, so they are not scored.

For a full guide to scoring, read annex 3. You can read how to improve your application score in section 4.3.

2.4 Choose management options and capital items

When choosing which management options and capital items to include in your application, read section 4 (How to apply for Mid Tier) for guidance.

Certain management options for the management of priority habitat, priority water catchments and air quality require prior endorsement or approval.

For priority habitats, contact RPA by 2 June 2023. If your land does not appear as a priority habitat on MAGIC, you may need to contact Natural England by 2 June 2023 (see section 4.5.2).
For management options and capital items which relate to water quality, air quality or natural flood management, please contact Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) at least 10 weeks before you intend to submit your application, otherwise your request will not be considered. Read section 4.5.1 for more information.

Question 3

3.  Who can apply and what land is eligible

Accepted Answer

You must read and meet the requirements in this section which are mandatory for all Mid Tier agreements, including the Wildlife Offers. For the Wildlife Offers, you must also read section 5.

Mid Tier is open to land managers who are either:

a land owner or occupier
a tenant
a landlord
a licensor

3.1 Land that is eligible for Mid Tier

To be eligible for Mid Tier, including the Wildlife Offers, land must be entirely within England and be:

an agricultural area (defined as any area taken up by arable land, permanent grassland or permanent crops)
a terrestrial priority habitat – read UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Priority Habitats
land that supports a priority species – read UK BAP Priority Species
a protected site (not eligible for Wildlife Offers)

Protected sites include:

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), including proposed SACs
Special Protection Areas (SPAs), including proposed SPAs
Ramsar sites
SSSIs

Find more information about protected areas of countryside.

Land parcels already included in another CS or ES agreement may also be eligible for CS Mid Tier or Wildlife Offers, provided:

the same action is not being funded twice
the options and items are compatible with each other
the rules set out in section 3.4 are followed

There is no minimum area you must enter into the scheme, but there are minimum areas for some management options and capital items. Check the CS grant finder for the minimum area requirements for individual management options and capital items before you apply for them.

3.2 Land that is not eligible

The following land is not eligible for either Mid Tier or Wildlife Offers:

developed land and hard standing, including permanent caravan sites and areas used for permanent storage (eligible exceptions include traditional farm or forestry buildings that are eligible for grants under CS and yards, tracks and farm buildings proposed for management through CS capital items)
land parcels that have solar panels for generating electricity for use off-farm see section 3.9
areas (one hectare (ha) or more) of permanent standing or running water
land already subject to another obligation that is incompatible with CS
common land and shared grazing – you must apply for a Higher Tier agreement on this land
land where you do not have management control for the period of the agreement and you are not able to have your application countersigned by the landowner – see section 3.2
land within the High Speed Two (HS2) route safeguarding zone

Land in other environmental schemes, apart from CS and ES, may not be eligible, please contact the RPA to discuss.

3.3 Applications from land managers operating multiple farm businesses

If your Single Business Identifier (SBI) operates more than one farming business, you can submit more than one application for a CS agreement in the same year.

You can include the same land parcel in more than one CS agreement, provided:

the same action is not being funded twice on the same land
the options and items are compatible with each other
the rules set out in section 3.4 are followed

Land parcels already entered into another scheme may also be eligible for CS Mid Tier, provided there is sufficient space in the parcel for all the options and items in the agreements. See section 3.4 for more information.

Each application will be scored separately on its own merit.

You can only submit one application at a time.

For approval of items listed in annex 5, CSF will only assess one application for each individually managed SBI in any rolling 12-month period.

3.4 Agreement Land

Agreement Land can only include land that is eligible for CS. Agreement land must include any:

land parcel that will contain a paid management option or capital item at any time during the agreement period
eligible land parcel that is designated as a SSSI or a Scheduled Monument, whether or not there are paid management options or capital items on that land

These parcels will become the Agreement Land and must meet the requirements set out in section 6.2 of the agreement holder’s guide.

3.5 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Scheduled Monuments

All land that is eligible for CS that is designated as a SSSI or Scheduled Monument must be included in your application.

The SSSI or Scheduled Monument land must be appropriately managed and any paid management options or capital items must not cause damage.

If your land contains a SSSI, you cannot apply for one of the 4 Wildlife Offer agreements.

Talk to your local Natural England adviser about options for SSSI land before you apply. Natural England can advise on:

SSSI management
whether a CS agreement is appropriate
what to do if there are no suitable grants available

For more information see sites of special scientific interest: managing your land. Historic England can provide free advice on Scheduled Monument management.

When you apply for CS Mid Tier:

you must include your SSSI or Scheduled Monument land parcels with appropriate CS management options or your application will be rejected, unless you have written confirmation from Natural England or Historic England that shows the site is under favourable management, including in another ES or CS agreement
where the site is not currently in good condition, and not in another ES or CS agreement, you must choose management options or capital items, or both to improve its condition, unless there are no suitable grants available
for sites already in good condition, you should choose management options and capital items to maintain the site in that condition
where the condition of a SSSI is affected by your management of land outside the SSSI boundary, you must choose management options or capital items, or both to support favourable condition of the SSSI
you must apply for Higher Tier if there are no suitable Mid Tier options available and the only suitable option is available through Higher Tier

Your application will be rejected if it:

does not include areas of SSSI or Scheduled Monuments on your holding
includes choices that could damage the SSSI or Scheduled Monument
does not support the favourable condition of the SSSI or Scheduled Monument
includes choices on the surrounding land parcels that would have a negative impact on the SSSI or Scheduled Monument

You must have, or arrange for, appropriate consent from Natural England or Historic England to cover management of the SSSI or Scheduled Monument before an agreement can start. See section 4.6 for information on how to get consent.

3.6 European sites

A ‘European site’ is designated as an:

SAC, or proposed SAC
SPA

All Ramsar sites and potential SPAs are treated as European sites under the scheme.

If you are planning activity on, or next to, a European site, before any agreement offer can be made, Natural England or the Forestry Commission must complete a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA).

An application will be rejected if the assessment of the proposed activity would have an adverse impact on the European site.

Activity necessary to conserve the special features of the European sites will usually be allowed. However, some multi-year management options or capital items may be assessed in more detail.

3.7 Protected species

Some species are partly or fully protected by legislation. Examples of the most common protected wildlife include:

all wild birds and their eggs and nests that are in use or being built are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
European protected species (EPS) which are protected by Part 3 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017

You must not disturb or damage the places that animal EPS use to rest and shelter (for example, bat roosts and otter holts). For plant EPS, you must not pick, uproot or destroy them.

If you have protected species on your land, you must consider and meet the requirements for protection which apply to those species before carrying out any management activities. For more information, see Managing wildlife on your land.

By choosing appropriate scheme management options or capital items you can help to maintain suitable habitats for protected species.

3.8 Organic land

If you have land that is registered as organic or in conversion to organic status, it is eligible for CS, provided other eligibility criteria are met. The scheme provides funding for organic management and conversion. See section 4.3.7 for details.

3.9 Land parcels with solar panels

Land parcels that contain solar panels for generating electricity for use off-farm are not eligible for CS.

You cannot erect panels on Agreement Land. If the panels are concentrated at one end of a field, the rest of the land can be eligible if the 2 areas are registered as individual land parcels and separated by a permanent boundary.

Read the RLE1 guidance for information on how to request updates to your digital maps. Solar panels powering electric fencing for livestock control or water pumping which support agreement objectives are permitted.

3.10 Integrated pest management (IPM)

Many of the CS options can contribute to an integrated pest management approach, enabling you to benefit wildlife by reducing the use of chemicals and pesticides whilst still achieving your crop yields. Read annex 7 for the options that would greatly enhance the wildlife and biodiversity on your holding.

3.11 Management control: who can apply

You must have management control of all the land and all the activities needed to meet the requirements of the management options and capital items you select for the full period of the CS agreement.

If you do not have full control of the land and all such activities, you must get the written consent of all other parties who have management control of the land and activities for the entire period of the agreement. The next sections explain more about this. You should also read Section 3.12.2 about ‘dual use’.

3.11.1 Tenants

If you are including land in a CS application that you occupy under a tenancy, including under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 (a Farm Business Tenancy) or equivalent, you must have:

management control of this land for the duration of any commitments (which may extend beyond the agreement period)
control of all the activities needed to meet the scheme requirements for the chosen CS multi-year management options and capital items
security of tenure for the full period of the CS agreement

If you will have security of tenure for less than 5 years starting from 1 January 2024, you must get the countersignature of your landlord as part of your application (using the Land ownership and control form). If that is not possible, that part of your land is not eligible to be included in your CS application.

You must have the agreement of your landlord or the landowner before you apply. If you are a tenant, including under the Agricultural Holding Act 1986, Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 (a Farm Business Tenancy) or equivalent, it is your responsibility to check that by joining CS you do not breach the terms of your tenancy.

If a landlord takes over a CS agreement from you once your tenancy has ended, they must be eligible to do so. For example, they must not be an ineligible public body.

3.11.2 Landlords

If you are a landlord and can show that you have management control over the land, which has been let to a tenant, and the activities, you can include that land in a CS application.

As the Agreement Holder, you must give your tenant a copy of the CS agreement. You may need to provide written evidence, if requested, that you have given your tenant a copy of the agreement. It is your responsibility to make sure that your tenant does not breach the terms of the agreement. If your tenant will be using the same land to claim for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), read section 3.12.2 about ‘dual use’.

3.11.3 Partnerships

If you are in a business partnership, you can apply for CS. The person submitting the application must have the appropriate permission levels in the Rural Payments service. See section 4.6 for more information.

3.11.4 Licensors

If you are a licensor, you can apply for a CS agreement. It is your responsibility to make sure that the licensee does not breach the terms of the CS agreement.

You must make sure that the licensee is aware of the requirements of the agreement, as relevant to the licence, and include these in the licence agreement.

3.11.5 Licensees

Licensees are usually not eligible for CS as a licence arrangement will not provide sufficient management control of the land to the licensee.

If in practice your licence agreement gives you wider land management responsibilities, this may mean you are a tenant and therefore may be eligible for CS. You must show that you have sufficient management control of the land and activities to be able to apply. See section 3.11.1 for more information about CS for tenants.

3.11.6 Land owned by public bodies

Land owned or run by a public body is in general not eligible for CS. Land is not eligible if it is owned or run by:

Crown bodies (including all government departments, executive agencies and trading funds)
non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)

See a list of all departments, agencies and public bodies.

Land owned by some other public bodies is eligible for CS provided the work does not form part of their obligations as a public body.

This includes land owned by:

local authorities
national park authorities
public corporations

Parish councils and former college farms are not considered to be public bodies and so are eligible to apply for CS.

3.11.7 Tenants of land owned by public bodies

If you are a tenant of a public body, you will need to check with your landlord if the land is eligible for CS.

If the land is owned by an eligible public body, you will be eligible for CS, but the public body must countersign your application if you do not have security of tenure. You will not be eligible for funding for any work which is already a requirement of your tenancy agreement or any other legally binding obligation.

If the land is owned by an ineligible public body, you will still be eligible for CS if you have security of tenure for the full term of the agreement, including the durability requirement, as the public body cannot countersign the application. You will not be eligible for funding for any work which is already a requirement of your tenancy agreement or any other legally binding obligation.

3.11.8 Common land and shared grazing

Common land and shared grazing is not eligible for Mid Tier. It is only eligible for CS Higher Tier.

3.12 Land receiving other funding

You cannot use a grant for activities which you are required to carry out under other legally binding obligations. This includes private contractual obligations or for which you are receiving or have received funding from other sources.

We will carry out checks to make sure that activities are not funded twice from public money.

You cannot use CS to pay for any environmental management that is already required:

by statutory duty, as detailed in section 3.11.6
through payment from Exchequer funds
through grant aid from any other public body under any other grant scheme or obligation
through any other form of legally binding obligation, including private contractual obligations for which you are receiving or have received funding from other sources

3.12.1 Relationship with the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)

If you are using land to claim BPS, you can also enter that same land into a CS agreement.

Some land that is ineligible for BPS may still be eligible for CS. For example, features such as ponds, areas of scrub and woodland which are ineligible for BPS can be eligible for CS options.

You must read the latest BPS rules.

It is your responsibility to make sure that you have correctly declared your BPS land use codes. They need to show the relevant land use and cover that is going to be appropriate for the CS options that you are applying for. Options will be removed from your application if they are not compatible with the declared land use and cover.

When you include land parcels in a Mid Tier application that have been used to claim BPS in the same year, we will check that the CS management option applied for is compatible with the BPS land use and cover you have declared.

It is the BPS land use and cover declared in the year you apply that we will check for your C S Mid Tier application, even though the CS agreement start date is 1 January 2024. If you are applying online, you will need to make sure you have added the correct land codes to apply your chosen options.

Where you use CS Agreement Land to claim BPS, we will check to make sure that the land use code entered for each land parcel is compatible with the CS management. This will be the land use declared in the same year that the CS annual claim is submitted. This means that when you apply for certain CS options, you need to consider how they will affect your future BPS payments.

It is possible to have more than one CS option in a single land parcel, including in two separate agreements. If there is no permanent boundary between the options, you do not have to split the parcel into 2 separate land parcels on the Rural Payments service.

For more information about the BPS rules, or for guidance on declaring land that is in both CS and BPS, read the relevant BPS rules or contact us on 03000 200 301.

Find the Rural Payments service land use codes.

Land in some CS options may become ineligible for BPS by the end of the CS agreement. This can happen where agricultural land is changed to non-agricultural use and cannot be easily changed back to agricultural, for example, creating intertidal wetland.

3.12.2 Applying for CS where someone else is claiming BPS on the same land (‘dual use’)

In certain circumstances, it is possible for a land parcel to be used by one applicant’s SBI to claim BPS and that same land parcel to also be included in a CS application submitted by someone else under their SBI. This is known as ‘dual use’.

If you are in a dual use situation you must be able to demonstrate you are meeting the rules and eligibility requirements of the scheme you are claiming for, and you must have a written record.

If you are the CS applicant, you have to meet the CS eligibility rules, including having management control of the land included in your CS application.

The BPS applicant must show that they have the same land ‘at their disposal’ under the BPS rules (and meet BPS eligibility rules). If you have an agreement with another person who uses the land to apply for BPS, this does not mean that person has the land at their disposal. It is the rights and responsibilities held in relation to the land, and how they operate in practice, which determine this.

An example of ‘dual use’ is where a landlord has management control of the land for CS while the tenant has the same land at their disposal to claim BPS.

If you are the CS applicant, make sure you have a written record before the BPS application deadline of 15 May 2023 that is signed and dated by both parties. This written record could be a tenancy agreement, a letter, or both, which shows:

the rights and responsibilities you and the BPS applicant in the ‘dual use’ situation each have for the land
you have management control of the land and the BPS applicant has the land ‘at their disposal’
you have given a copy of the CS Agreement Document and the terms and conditions (once you receive them) to the other party and that they must meet the terms and conditions (unless you can show that you are carrying out the required activities)

You must also make sure that the ‘dual use’ land parcels are linked to both SBIs in the digital maps in the Rural Payments service. The BPS applicant may need to transfer the land parcels to you using an electronic or paper RLE1 form. Read about how to do this in the RLE1 guidance.

You may want to get independent professional advice, especially if you previously had a verbal agreement (rather than a written agreement) with the other party.

3.12.3 Lump Sum Exit Scheme

If you have been paid a lump sum under the Lump Sum Exit Scheme, you will not be eligible to enter into new CS agreements for some options (or add land to existing CS agreements for those options), unless you first repay the lump sum. See guidance on how lump sum payments affect some Countryside Stewardship options.

If you have been paid a lump sum under the Lump Sum Exit Scheme as a partnership or limited company, and only some partners or shareholders left the business, the remaining partners and shareholders can apply to CS (or add land to existing CS agreements) without the lump sum having to be repaid.

3.12.4 Environmental Stewardship (ES)

Land in an ES Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement is only eligible for CS Mid Tier management options and capital items if it is not under an HLS management option. If you choose to put a CS Mid Tier agreement on land already in an HLS agreement, you must make sure that:

there is sufficient space for all the options and items in both agreements
the same actions are not being funded twice
the actions required in your existing agreement and your new CS Mid Tier agreement are compatible

It is possible to end your ES agreement early without penalty if you are successful in securing a place on another land management agreement that delivers equivalent or greater environmental value. If you do not meet this condition but still want to end your ES agreement early, you will be required to repay monies previously received.

If your ES agreement comes to an end in 2023, you can apply for a CS agreement.

3.12.5 Existing CS Mid Tier, Wildlife Offer and Higher Tier agreements

You can enter land parcels in an existing CS Mid Tier, Wildlife Offer or Higher Tier agreement in a new CS Mid Tier agreement, but you must make sure:

there is sufficient space for all the options and items in both agreements
the same actions are not being funded twice
the actions required in your existing agreement and your new CS Mid Tier agreement are compatible

You can apply for a CS Mid Tier agreement on land parcels which are not in your existing CS Mid Tier, Wildlife Offer, or Higher Tier agreement provided the activities in your new agreement do not conflict with your existing agreement.

If you have included capital items in your application for your new CS Mid Tier agreement, any capital works in your existing Mid Tier or Higher Tier agreement must have been fully completed and paid for. Capital items are not available in the Wildlife Offers.

We will carry out checks to make sure that capital works are not funded twice.

3.12.6 Existing CS capital agreement

You may have a CS Mid Tier agreement alongside any of the following CS capital-only agreements:

CS Capital Grants
CS Higher Tier Capital Grants
CS Protection and Infrastructure (all items)
CS Woodland Tree Health (WTH)
CS Woodland Management Plan (WMP)

You can apply for a CS Mid Tier agreement on the same land parcels as your existing CS capital-only agreement if:

there is sufficient space in the parcel for all the options and items in both agreements
the same actions are not being funded twice
the actions required in your existing agreement and your new CS Mid Tier agreement are compatible

You can apply for a CS Mid Tier agreement on land which is not in your existing CS capital-only agreement as long as the new grants do not conflict with your existing agreement.

If you have written consent from a Forestry Commission woodland officer or Natural England adviser, you can:

apply for a CS Implementation Plan (PA1), Feasibility Study (PA2), WMP (PA3) or WTH grant agreement on the same land parcels
apply for a Higher Tier capital-only agreement on parcels with a woodland multi-year option in place
apply for a Higher Tier woodland agreement (WD2) on parcels already in an agreement with woodland capital items

3.12.7 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot

You cannot enter land parcels into a CS Mid Tier agreement if they’re already in an SFI pilot standards agreement. These land parcels are also not eligible for CS Capital Grants, but SFI pilot participants can apply for the separate CS Capital Grants (SFI pilot) offer. Please read the Applicant’s guide: Capital Grants (SFI pilot) 2023 for more information.

3.12.8 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)

You can enter land parcels which are already in a SFI standards agreement into a CS Mid Tier agreement starting on 1 January 2024 if:

the land meets the CS Mid Tier scheme eligibility requirements
the activities or outcomes being paid for under SFI and the CS options you choose are compatible
you’re not being paid for a similar activity or outcome on the same area of land at the same time

You can find out which CS options are eligible for land in the existing SFI standards on How an SFI standards agreement interacts with other funding schemes.

3.12.9 Landscape Recovery

If you have a Mid Tier or Wildlife Offer agreement, you can also apply for a Landscape Recovery agreement. Defra will help you to transition from a Mid Tier (including Wildlife Offers) agreement to a Landscape Recovery agreement to avoid double funding. Find out about how Landscape Recovery will work.

3.12.10 Conservation Enhancement Scheme (CES), Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (WES) or Section 15 management agreements

If you have land that is designated as an SSSI, you may be receiving payments under Natural England’s CES, WES or a section 15 management agreement.

Eligibility for CS payments will depend on the specific requirements of each of these scheme agreements and are decided on a case-by-case basis.

3.12.11 English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) and England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

You can apply for CS options on land parcels covered by an EWGS Management Planning Grant and certain capital grants (for example, Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) if:

this does not result in you being paid twice for the same items or activities
the CS options do not conflict with any ongoing EWGS requirements

You cannot apply for CS options on land parcels covered by certain multi-annual schemes while you are still receiving annual payments for them. These schemes include:

EWGS agreement
EWCO
Farm Woodland Payment (FWP)
Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS)
Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS)

The only exception to this is where a CS Protection and Infrastructure Grant is applied for, to support EWCO or if applying for beaver protection items BC3 (Crop protection fencing mesh and wire for permanent crops) and BC4 (Tree guard post and wire).

3.12.12 National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)

Some NLHF applications can be considered for CS as a source of complementary or partnership funding, but only where the CS payments are for separate works.

Where CS agreements within an area-wide project have started less than 12 months before the NLHF application, the payments will be considered as complementary funding.

3.12.13 Scheduled Monuments

In some cases, you may already receive funding for Scheduled Monuments to help manage a site, area or building. This includes grants from Historic England (formerly English Heritage) under Management Agreements for Field Monuments or a Repair Grant for Heritage at Risk.

This land may also be eligible for CS as long as you do not receive any other grant or funding for the same activity.

3.12.14 Fruit and Vegetables Producer Organisation Aid Scheme

You cannot receive a CS grant for management funded under the Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation aid scheme.

3.12.15 Inheritance Tax or Capital Gains exemptions

If you have a business (with an SBI) that is subject to an Inheritance Tax exemption agreement with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), it may be eligible for Mid Tier.

CS management options and capital items may be available on land designated by HMRC as conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax or as the object of a Maintenance Fund (heritage property), depending on the specific undertakings and proposed management options or capital items.

Read Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax exemption guidance: Countryside Stewardship to find out whether management options and capital items are always eligible, never eligible, or need to be checked to make sure that options do not overlap with the obligations of the undertakings.

You are recommended to look at the conditional exemption undertakings for your land before applying for CS so that you choose options that are most likely to succeed.

3.12.16 National Park Authority and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) grant schemes

National Park Authority or AONB grant schemes can include both annual payments for land management and capital works.

Generally, you cannot combine CS with other sources of funding for the same land management or capital works in the same location.

However, National Park Authority and AONB grant schemes such as Get funding for farming in protected landscapes are designed to fund management not covered by CS or other schemes, or for measures over and above the requirements of other schemes. Please contact your National Park Authority or AONB for details.

3.12.17 Other schemes or grants

CS cannot fund works that form part of these, or similar, schemes or grants:

Capital Grants under Countryside Productivity
Growth Programme
LEADER
Water Environment Grant
Woodland Carbon Fund
HS2 Woodland Fund
Farming Recovery Fund
Nature for Climate Fund
Farming Investment Fund
other capital grants

Equipment funded from these schemes can be used to undertake the work specified within the CS scheme.

3.12.18 Land that is under another obligation such as planning permission or section 106 requirements

CS cannot fund works that must be undertaken as a requirement of:

any planning permission
a section 106 agreement or equivalent
restoring or remediating any works undertaken illegally

Question 4

4.  How to apply for Mid Tier

Accepted Answer

This section applies to Mid Tier only.

Read section 5 to apply for Wildlife Offers only.

4.1 Check you’re registered

You must register on the Rural Payments service before you can apply online or request a CS application.

When you register, you will receive a Customer Registration Number (CRN) and an SBI. Agents applying for you must also register on the Rural Payments service – see section 4.1.2.

4.1.1 Registering land parcels

You need to register all the agricultural land parcels on your holding which are 0.0100ha or larger, so they appear on your digital maps. You also need to register all the non-agricultural land parcels you intend to include in your CS application with management options or capital items. This includes any buildings and farmyards on which you want to apply for management options or capital items.

For example:

options HS1 or HS8 for maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings
any capital works in the farmyard, such as those for water and air quality improvements

The total field size of every land parcel needs to be accounted for, including how different areas of the parcel are being used for different things, using the appropriate land use codes.

4.1.2 Updating your land information in the Rural Payments service

You can check all the land parcels registered to your holding in your digital maps in the Rural Payments service.

From the ‘Business overview’ screen, click ‘Land’ then ‘View land’.

To view individual land parcel details, select the land parcel you need. The ‘Parcel details’ screen shows you a digital map and details of the land parcel.

If you believe the map or any of the details are incorrect, you need to request a change to your digital map.

Your land must be correct in the Rural Payments service before you start your CS application.

To request changes to your land information, you must fill in an RLE1 form and send it to us by email or post. Enter ‘CS application RLE1 land change’ and your SBI in the subject heading of your email or add it to the top of the paper form.

Read more information on how to check your digital maps.

See the Rural Payments service land use codes 2023.

4.1.3 Authorise an agent

You can authorise an agent to fill in and submit your application for you. For an agent to act for you, you must give them the appropriate permission levels in the Rural Payments service.

4.2 Choose your agreement type

Before you apply, you need to decide which type of Mid Tier agreement to apply for. Read section 2 for more information.

4.3 Choose management options and capital items

You should consider the types of management options and capital items to include in your application at an early stage. This will give you time to request any advice, approvals, consents or permissions. Read section 2.2 for more information on what grants are available.

You can choose from a wide range of management options and capital items in the Mid Tier scheme. It is important that you choose management options and capital items that address your local environmental priorities. This will also improve your application’s score.

Make sure the management options and capital items you choose are suitable for your land and that you will be able to meet the management requirements for the length of the agreement.

Once you receive your Agreement Document, changes can only be made in very limited circumstances and will need to be agreed in writing by us in advance – see section 7 of the agreement holder’s guide.

4.3.1 The effect on your application’s score

Your choice of management options and capital items can affect your application’s score and its potential for delivering environmental outcomes for example:

management options and capital items that address your local environmental priorities increase the score and help achieve targeted improvements in your area
management options and capital items that do not address local priorities may reduce the score because value for money is considered in the score

Other ways to improve your environmental outcomes score include:

applying for the WPFWP (see section 4.3.4)
getting advice from CSF
including the educational access option
being part of a coordinated Facilitation Fund group

Read more details on scoring in annex 3.

4.3.2 Identify local priorities

You should choose management options and capital items that focus on the environmental priorities in your local area.

You can use the CS statements of priorities and priority maps to identify the priority features and issues targeted in your area. This will help you choose which management options and capital items to include in your application.

You can also find details of features on your land and local priorities by using the MAGIC website.

4.3.3 Find details of management options and capital items

For a list of management options and capital items available in Mid Tier, including payment rates, read annex 2a.
The CS grant finder lists all the management options and capital items is available and any eligibility requirements. You can filter the list by type, land use, tier and funding, or search for key words.

You can use an online Options Tool by signing into the Rural Payments service. On the Business Overview screen click the Countryside Stewardship link. You can find the highest priority options for your holding by answering a few simple questions.

Choosing the highest priority options can increase your application’s score.

4.3.4 Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package (WPFWP)

Applying for the WPFWP will help you provide a good combination of resources for wildlife on your holding. To include the WPFWP you need to choose management options that meet the requirements of the package. These must be at least 3% of the arable, temporary grass or permanent grass area in your application.

Read annex 4 for more information.

If your application meets the requirements of the WPFWP and your holding is in a priority area for WPFWP, your application score will be increased.

4.3.5 Addressing water and air quality and reducing flood risk

Some management options and capital items which help improve water quality, air quality, and reduce the risk of flooding are only available with CSF approval. If you wish to include these in your Mid Tier application, you must contact CSF at least 10 weeks before you intend to submit your CS application. If the level of demand exceeds CSF resources, then there is no guarantee that your request will be considered within the CS Mid Tier application window.

Read section 4.5.1 for further information on CSF advice and approval. If there is run-off and soil erosion risk identified on your Farm Environment Record (FER), consider whether any management options or capital items would resolve the problem and include them in your application.

Read annex 5 for information on choosing water and air quality management options and capital items.

4.3.6 Priority habitats and species

Mid Tier includes some management options to support priority habitats and species. These management options have specific eligibility criteria and must be endorsed by RPA. For more information, including a list of these management options, read section 4.5.2. Other management options for priority habitats and species are available in Higher Tier.

4.3.7 Organic conversion and management

Mid Tier provides 16 options that are only available to organic farmers and land managers. These include options for conversion to organic status (OR1 to OR5) and to continue to manage existing organic land (OT1 to OT6 and OP1 to OP5). Other scheme options and items can be included in the agreement if they are compatible with organic status.

To apply for the organic management options, you must be registered with an Organic Control Body (OCB) for the period of the agreement. If the organic registration is not in place for the full agreement period, all organic payments will be recovered.

If you choose to apply for the organic conversion options, you must maintain your organic registration from the start of your organic conversion period through to the end of the agreement.

Conversion payments will normally be paid for up to 2 years, except for permanent crops such as fruit trees where a 3-year conversion period applies. It is possible to phase conversion, but all the land must be converted before the end of the CS agreement.

To be eligible for the organic conversion options you must have completed either:

a conversion plan, which must be approved and signed off by your OCB
a viability plan, for land which does not have a signed-off conversion plan at the time you apply

If you use a viability plan you must get an approved and signed-off conversion plan from your OCB before claiming any conversion option payments.

You must keep all evidence of organic certification and schedules as we may ask to see them.

Organic conversion payments are not available on land where your business has previously been entered for, or received, any organic conversion payments under a previous scheme, such as Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS).

4.4 Ways to apply

You can apply for Mid Tier:

online
by assisted digital

4.4.1 Apply for Mid Tier online

You can apply online using the Rural Payments service.

After you’ve signed in to the Rural Payments service, click ‘View business’. Scroll down the ‘Business overview’ screen and click ‘Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier Applications’.

Under CS Mid Tier, the limit for online applications is 200 land parcels. If you have more than 200 land parcels registered to your holding you will be offered an alternative way to apply. Telephone the RPA helpline on 03000 200 301 for more information.

If you apply online, you do not need to fill in a CS Mid Tier application form. You must keep evidence such as maps and any supporting documents and have them available on request.

4.4.2 Apply by Assisted Digital

If you’re unable to access the Rural Payments service to make your application online because you don’t have access to the internet, please try the following alternative routes:

are you able to use a public service to access the internet such as a local library or your local farming network
can anyone else within your business, a family member or friend help you to access the Rural Payments system

If you are still unable to access the Rural Payments service or have difficulty, contact our customer call centre on 03000 200 301 and we will help you to apply

4.5.1 Advice and approval for water and air quality, and natural flood management (NFM) items.

If you are applying for either the multi-year management options or capital items to support water, air and NFM listed in annex 5, you must get the support and approval of CSF prior to submitting your application.

These multi-year management options and capital items are only available if they address particular pollutants that affect the catchment, for example, sediment or pesticides.

If you require approval you must e-mail the completed request for support and approval form to CSF at least 10 weeks before you intend to submit your application. If you do not allow at least 10 weeks your request will not be considered. Please note that CSF will only provide its approval if the proposal addresses the key CSF objectives for the catchment area.

To receive support and approval from CSF, the management options and capital items applied for must directly target the air and water priorities identified as affecting that particular catchment or area. You will need to demonstrate clearly how the pollutants are currently impacting on the catchment. In the case of air, you will need to clearly identify the source of the ammonia emissions. You must also demonstrate clearly how the work you will undertake will address the pollution. In the case of NFM, you must demonstrate how the interventions will directly mitigate against flood risk or contribute to a wider project of flood risk management.

CSF support and approval will be prioritised on those farms where the greatest improvements in water and/or air quality and flood risk mitigation are most likely to be achieved.

CSF approval is a requirement for the inclusion of a number of high-risk management options and capital items. This approval does not guarantee that the particular management option or capital item will be included in any subsequent offer. Evidence of approval from CSF must be submitted before your agreement starts.

For information about how to find contact details, read annex 8.

4.5.2 Approval for management options for priority habitats and species

Mid Tier provides some management options to support priority habitats and species. These are listed in table 1. Other management options for priority habitats and species are available in Higher Tier.

Email us at ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk using the subject ‘Priority Habitat Inventory Amendments’ or telephone us on 03000 200 301 to request approval (except for BE4, UP2 and SP9). The deadline to do this is 2 June 2023.

Table 1

Code	Option title	Request approval from RPA
BE4	Management of traditional orchards	No
BE7	Supplement for restorative pruning of fruit trees	Yes
GS6	Management of species-rich grassland	Yes
GS9	Management of wet grassland for breeding waders	Yes
GS10	Management of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl	Yes
SP9	Threatened species supplement (only for corn bunting, brown hairstreak butterfly, and turtle dove)	No
UP2	Management of rough grazing for birds	No
WD4	Management of lowland wood pasture and parkland	Yes
WD10	Management of upland wood pasture and parkland	Yes
WT3	Management of ditches of high environmental value	Yes
WD8	Creation of successional areas and scrub	Yes

You can only include these management options in your Mid Tier application if:

they meet the criteria in table 2
you have written approval (except for BE4, UP2 and SP9)

First, check that your land meets the eligibility criteria of the management option using the table below. You can do this using the data layers on the MAGIC website.

Natural England (NE) manages the Priority Habitats Inventory (PHI). If you have parcels that you think should be on the PHI as certain priority habitat types which are not shown as such on MAGIC, contact NE by emailing habitatinventories@naturalengland.org.uk with ‘Priority Habitat Inventory Amendments’ in the subject line. Details of the evidence required to support requested changes to the PHI along with a licence for the applicant to sign to permit the use of the evidence can be supplied. Requests will be reviewed, and changes made if the evidence validates the request. You must send requests and supporting evidence by 2 June 2023 so that the request can be reviewed and the data layer changed (if appropriate) in time for Mid Tier applications.

Table 2 shows the initial eligibility requirements of Mid Tier management options that need endorsement.

Table 2

Option	Data layer on Magic Priority Habitat Inventory	Eligibility requirement
BE4 and BE7	Priority Habitat Inventory: Traditional orchards	Parcel to be mapped as priority habitat BE7 can only be included with BE4.
GS6	Priority Habitat Inventory: Lowland Calcareous Grassland, Lowland Dry Acid Grassland, Lowland Meadows, Upland Hay Meadow, Purple Moor-grass and Rush Pasture	Parcel to be mapped as one of the 5 priority habitats.
GS9, GS10 and WT3	Priority Habitat Inventory: Coastal floodplain and grazing marsh, Lowland Meadows, Purple Moor, Grass and Rush Pasture For GS9: Priority Species for CS Targeting: curlew, lapwing, redshank, snipe	Parcel to be mapped as priority habitat and (for GS9) be included within one of the 4 species layers, to show the species is present. WT3 can only be included with GS9 or GS10.
SP9	Priority Species for CS Targeting: Corn bunting, Brown hairstreak, Turtle dove	Application area to have corn bunting or turtle dove or brown hairstreak (as relevant) present. Can only be used with BE3 (brown hairstreak), AB10 (corn bunting), or AB12 or OP3 (turtle dove).
UP2	Upland breeding bird areas for CS	An eligibility UP2 checklist must be filled in, kept and submitted on request.
WD4	Priority Habitat Inventory: Wood pasture and parkland BAP, Priority habitat	Parcel to be mapped as priority habitat.
WD10	Priority Habitat Inventory: Wood pasture and parkland BAP, Priority habitat	Parcel to be mapped as priority habitat and inside Severely Disadvantaged Area.

When you have checked this, contact us to arrange approval to use the management options. For all management options, except BE4, UP2 and SP9, you must get this approval in place before your agreement starts in 2024. For BE4, UP2 and SP9, you do not need to request pre-application approval as this will happen when your application is processed. See the option details on the CS grant finder for more information.

Eligible parcels may need a site visit for final approval. If you have a site visit, you will receive a form from us, which you should keep as evidence of approval to be provided on request. Without approval you cannot include these options in your application (except for BE4, UP2 and SP9). This approval does not guarantee that the option will be in the agreement offer and it does not guarantee an agreement offer.

4.5.3 Advice from a CS Facilitation Fund coordinated group

Applications confirmed as being part of a coordinated CS Facilitation Fund group will receive additional points at scoring. Contact your facilitator early to make sure that your application fits with the overall objectives of the group. You must keep evidence of endorsement from the CS Facilitation Fund facilitator.

4.5.4 Approval for management of lowland peat soils

You can only include options for managing lowland peat soils in your Mid Tier application on land designated as lowland peat soils. You no longer need to get approval but your eligibility criteria for peatland options SW17 and SW18 can be checked on MAGIC.

4.6 Get consents and permissions

You are responsible for arranging all relevant consents, permissions, exemptions and written advice needed for your application. You will not be paid for any work undertaken without all the necessary consents and permissions being in place before you begin any work.

In some cases, you will not be offered an agreement or your agreement may be withdrawn if these are not in place.

You can find guidance in this section and in the evidence requirements section of each grant description on the CS grant finder.

To make sure you submit a valid application:

identify the consents and permissions you need as soon as you start your application – this will depend on any designations attached to your land and on the management options and capital items that you choose to include in your application – at application you will be asked to self-declare that you will seek consents/permissioned required for your application
contact the relevant organisations shown in the guidance for advice and consents, where required
after you’ve accepted your agreement offer but before your agreement starts in January 2024, you will need to provide us with the evidence of your consent/permissions.

You may be unaware of some of the consents and permissions you need until after you have received advice. You should contact the relevant organisations for advice and gain consent or permission.

4.6.1 Consents

Examples of the kinds of permissions and consents you may need are explained below.

Land designated as a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI)

If your Mid Tier application includes SSSI land, you will need to request any necessary SSSI consents from Natural England. Your agreement cannot start without SSSI consent. You can request SSSI consent when you receive your agreement offer. You must send a copy of your application summary or the agreement offer, along with a notice form, to Natural England – download the form to give notice and get consent for a planned activity on a SSSI.

You can email the copy of the offer and the completed notice form to Natural England at ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk. If you are unable to email them then you can post them.

Natural England
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP

Natural England can also advise on managing the SSSI land through CS. Contact Natural England as early as possible to discuss this.

Holdings which include SSSI land are not eligible for the 4 Wildlife Offers – read section 5. Holdings which include one or more Scheduled Monuments are eligible for the 4 Wildlife Offers.

Scheduled Monuments

If you have a Scheduled Monument on your holding, the Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER; see section 4.7.2) will give you management recommendations from Historic England. This will include advice on how to maintain or bring the Scheduled Monument into favourable condition and protect the feature of historic interest. You will not receive a HEFER for the Wildlife Offers but you still need to manage the Scheduled Monument on your holding.

Some work - including capital items on Scheduled Monument land, may need Scheduled Monument consent (SMC) from Historic England. For example, soil sampling, fencing, gateways and water supplies.

If you have a Scheduled Monument you must:

contact Historic England for further information and to find out whether you need SMC
include an appropriate option in your application

If the Scheduled Monument has been classed as ‘essential’ by Historic England, you must include options to achieve the specified outcome. You must not choose options that are damaging to HEFER features.

You can get advice on whether you can do the work so that it avoids a negative impact on the Scheduled Monument. Historic England can also advise whether proposed works are acceptable in relation to:

listed buildings
registered parks and gardens
registered battlefields

Protected species

You may need a wildlife licence, which you should keep for evidence, if any activities in your application may affect protected species. See Managing wildlife on your land and section 3.7 for more information.

Work affecting water

You may need consent from the Environment Agency (EA), internal drainage board or local authority for management that will affect any watercourses.

This includes work:

to a watercourse
within 8m of a watercourse
within the flood or coastal plain (for example, excavation work for a pond)

You do not need consent to establish arable margins.

You do not need to provide evidence of consent or evidence that such consent is not needed with your application. If required, you will need to have consent in place before you carry out any work. You will need to submit this evidence with your payment claim.

Allow at least 2 months to get consent for:

land drainage consent
discharge consent
an abstraction licence

You will need consent from EA for any works associated with:

pesticide treatment
water extraction
storage of slurry, silage or fuel oil

You do not need consent for roofing over cattle handling areas or loafing areas.

Contact your local Environment Agency office.

If your land has significant erosion problems, or is causing pollution, you need to resolve this before you can be considered for an agreement. This is particularly important in sensitive river catchments.

Tree planting

Tree planting for air quality must be planned to ensure there is no harmful effect on priority habitats and species, or historic environment or geodiversity features (read sections 4.6.3 and 4.7) and will need approval of CSF. Any applications including tree planting must follow the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) regulations for forestry and you must consult the UK Forestry Standard for good practice for creating woodlands. Any match-funding with other sources of tree planting or woodland creation grant funding should follow the same rules as for Exchequer funding.

Work on trees

You may need permission for work on trees that are under a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). If this applies to you, contact your local authority or national park authority. See more information on Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas.

You may need a Forestry Commission Felling Licence to remove trees or manage hedges. This applies whether they are in woodland or not.

You can fell up to 5m³ and sell up to 2m³ of timber without a felling licence each calendar quarter. If you plan to fell or sell more, you must get a felling licence before your agreement offer can be issued. See more information about tree felling licences.

You do not need to provide evidence of any TPO permission or a felling licence with your application. If required, you will need to have the consent before you carry out any work. You will need to submit this when you make a claim for this work.

Listed buildings

If you are proposing work to any listed buildings, you must discuss this with your local authority or national park authority. They will advise whether you need listed building consent.

Conservation areas

If any part of your holding is in a conservation area, you must contact the local planning authority or national park authority. This is particularly important if you intend to work on trees, buildings, boundaries or other structures.

Work affecting public rights of way

If you intend to erect a new fence or other boundary that crosses a public right of way, you need to get authorisation from the local highways authority.

It is your responsibility to find out whether planning permission for certain work is required. Your local planning authority or national park authority can give you informal advice on whether a proposal needs planning permission or GPDO consent.

Most routine agricultural operations do not need planning permission because they are either:

not regarded as ‘development’ under planning legislation
‘permitted development’ that is ‘reasonably necessary’ for agriculture

Other operations may need GPDO consent. For example, creation of ponds, tracks or roofing capital items.

For general guidance on planning (not farm-specific) see Planning practice guidance or the plain English guide to the planning system.

You do not need to provide evidence of planning permission or GPDO consent, or evidence that such permission is not needed, with your application. If required, you will need to have permission or consent in place before you carry out any work. You will need to submit this evidence when you make a claim for this work.

4.6.3 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations Agriculture

These regulations protect environmentally significant areas, which are mainly uncultivated land and semi-natural areas, from damage by activities which increase the land’s agricultural productivity.

For more information, see EIA (Agriculture) regulations: apply to make changes to rural land.

A semi-natural area will need a screening decision before activity starts, whether the land is uncultivated or not.

If activities or works which increase the productivity of uncultivated or semi-natural land form part of a proposed CS application, you must contact Natural England for further advice. Telephone the EIA helpline on 0800 028 2140.

Particular consideration should be taken on land that has been in schemes for more than 15 years and has created habitat. This may now be considered as semi-natural under the EIA (Agriculture) regulations and will need a screening decision before starting any work that may improve the land’s agricultural productivity.

Also, if land has been reverted to grassland for a period of time and holds historic environment features, it will need a screening decision where those features are regionally significant or more, and you wish to convert those grasslands to arable.

Forestry

For any tree planting greater than 0.5ha, you need to check if an EIA is required. These formal processes are written into the EIA regulations – see the guidance on EIAs for woodland for general information. If your forestry project is for afforestation, small scale in nature or located within a low-risk area you may simply be able to notify the Forestry Commission of your proposal, using the EIA enquiry form, in order to get their decision. Check the afforestation thresholds table to see if you’re eligible for this process, and which notification procedure would apply.

4.7 Complete the Farm Environment Record (FER)

You must complete a FER map for all Mid Tier applications and you need to retain this in case we request it.

If you are applying for Mid Tier online, you will be able to download the FER when completing your application.

When selecting the link for the Environmental Information Map (EIM) record or the FER map before you submit the application, the maps will include all land parcels linked to the holding. After submission, the maps will only show the parcels as submitted within the application.

4.7.1 Farm Environment Record (FER)

The FER does not need to cover the whole holding but must include:

any parcels on which you apply for (rotational or non-rotational) management options or capital items
any SSSI or Scheduled Monuments even if management options or capital items are not proposed on them

Features mapped in the FER must be kept and protected from damage or removal for the duration of your agreement.

4.7.2 Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER)

If you have any Scheduled Monuments or other historic features on your land, you will need to request a HEFER.

If you apply for Mid Tier online, you will be able to download a HEFER guidance letter which will guide you through the process of requesting and downloading the HEFER.

The HEFER will be available 20 working days from the date it is requested. If you do not receive the HEFER, you can search on the HEFER portal for it.

You should receive an email to tell you that the HEFER response is available. You must follow the link in the email to download the HEFER response. The HEFER portal includes information about the Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England (SHINE). If you do not have an email address you can ask us to send your HEFER by post.

If you have any Scheduled Monuments read section 4.6.1.

The HEFER will give you free information about the historic environment on your land. You should use this information to help you choose appropriate management options and capital items. You must add the information to your FER.

If you have a HEFER produced within 3 years of the date on which your agreement would start, you can use this for your application. The HEFER must cover all land parcels in your application. If the existing HEFER does not cover all your land we will request an additional HEFER to cover the missing land parcels. If you are aware of any historic features not shown in your HEFER please contact us.

4.8 Other evidence required at application stage

You must keep evidence to show that you, the business, land and grants are eligible, and have it available on request as we may ask to see it.

4.8.1 Identify the evidence and supporting documents you need

You must retain any other evidence (such as photographs) set out under the management options and capital items. See the CS grant finder for more information and have it available on request as we may ask to see it in support of your application.

You must check what supporting documents are required for each management option and capital item. Your application form and the guidance received with it should also help you to identify any supporting information you need to submit.

4.8.2 Business viability test

We will check all applicants against an insolvency register. If we assess your application as not financially viable, we may not offer you an agreement.

For applications including capital expenditure of over £50,000 in total, you must submit a statement from a registered accountant (for example, a chartered accountant or certified accountant). This is to confirm that the business or SBI has the resources from trading profits, reserves or loans to undertake the work in the proposed agreement schedule.

Where confirmation from an accountant is needed, the accountant will need to provide a letter on headed paper which confirms:

they are a registered accountant
they act as the accountant for the applicant
they can confirm that you as the applicant have sufficient finances to complete the capital works in your application and how these funds will be sourced (for example, savings or loan)
their understanding of the total value of the capital works in the application

If your application includes more than £500,000 of capital items, we will also review 3 years of your relevant business accounts or other evidence. This is to confirm that you have the administrative, financial and operational capacity to meet the agreement requirements.

You must tell us if you are dependent on a third party to help fund some or all of the works.

4.9 Withdrawing an application

If you are applying for Mid Tier online, you can withdraw your application at any point during the online process. This will allow you to open a new online application if you wish, as long as the application window remains open.

Once an agreement offer has been made, you cannot withdraw your application, but you can reject the agreement offer if you wish to.

After the closing date, you can ask to remove options or items from your application, but you cannot add or amend them.

4.10 Submit your application and supporting documents

Submit your application:

online
by assisted digital

You must complete the following as part of your application and retain them on farm in case we request them:

options maps
FER maps
other supporting documents

4.11 After you apply

You cannot add management options and capital items to a submitted application. You can request that management options or capital items are removed before the application deadline, but the application will be scored again.

For capital items, you should not undertake work or incur costs before you have accepted your agreement offer, even if these form part of your agreement.

4.12 If your application is successful

We will:

check your application is eligible
score applications where funding is likely to be oversubscribed as in annex 3, except for applications that only include organic conversion and organic management options, and Wildlife Offers

4.12.1 Receiving and accepting an agreement offer

If your application is successful, we will make you an agreement offer via the Rural Payments service.

You will receive a notification in the Rural Payments service notifying you that you have been offered an agreement. You can view your agreement offer and agreement documentation within the CS Mid Tier Application section of the Rural Payments service. If you have multiple offers, these will be notified and shown separately. You can reject or accept the offer.

If you accept the agreement offer you should review it before electronically signing it by using the accept offer option. If you reject the offer, you should state why in the text box available and it will be electronically returned to RPA for further work.

Once you have accepted the agreement offer, the agreement will be set live and, pending any outstanding activity, will begin from 1 January 2024. You can then access the document to view, download or print it out for your records.

If there is SSSI land in your agreement offer, you must email a copy of the offer, along with a notice form, to ProtectedSites@naturalengland.org.uk to request SSSI consent – download the Notice of proposal form. Your offer will be withdrawn if you do not secure consent from Natural England.

If you cannot send the documents by email, you can post them.

Natural England
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP

4.12.2 Agreement start date

We will let you know when we receive your declaration and confirm that your agreement will start on 1 January 2024.

4.13 If your application is unsuccessful

Your application may be rejected at any stage if it:

does not meet eligibility criteria
does not score highly enough to meet the minimum threshold (excludes the organic conversion and organic management options and Wildlife Offers)
does not score highly enough to be prioritised against the available budget (excludes the organic conversion and organic management options and Wildlife Offers)
is likely to cause harm to the environment
is incomplete, for example, you have not provided all the required supporting evidence
does not include all the relevant consents, permissions and written advice needed to support it

Question 5

5.  How to apply for Wildlife Offers

Accepted Answer

Four Wildlife Offers give you a range of management options that focus on providing habitats for farm wildlife depending on your farm type. The Wildlife Offers are non-competitive, meaning if you meet the requirements, you’ll be offered an agreement.

5.1 Benefits to wildlife

For each offer you can choose the best options to:

improve nectar sources for insect pollinators and foraging for birds
provide additional winter food sources for seed-eating birds
improve habitats and other resources for specific species or areas

5.1.2 How Wildlife Offers work

These offers:

are a quicker and easier way to apply for funding
include a focused range of options so you can pick those most relevant to your farm business and local priorities
are non-competitive

Applications are not scored because the Wildlife Offers are designed to provide environmental benefits. If you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, we will make you an agreement offer.

You can choose from the:

arable offer
lowland grazing offer
mixed farming offer
upland offer

If you accept the agreement, you’ll receive an annual payment for 5 years. The amount you receive depends on the options you choose and compliance with your agreement. Only some of the Mid Tier options are available in the Wildlife Offers. The Wildlife Offers do not include capital items, but you can apply for capital items through the standalone CS capital grants offers.

There are 34 Mid Tier options in the Wildlife Offers, of which there are:

19 options in the arable offer
13 options in the lowland grazing offer
26 options in the mixed farming offer
10 options and 3 supplements in the upland offer

If you want to access other multi-year management options, you should apply for the Mid Tier. If you want to apply for capital items, you can apply for a:

Mid Tier agreement which includes both management options and capital items
CS Capital Grants agreement in addition to your Wildlife Offers agreement, including on the same land parcels
CS Higher Tier Capital Grants agreement in addition to your Wildlife Offers agreement, including on the same land parcels

5.2 The application process

5.2.1 How to apply

You can apply for the Wildlife Offers online using the Rural Payments service. If you cannot apply online, you can contact us to request a paper application form but you must do this well in advance of the 15 September 2023 closing date.

To request a Wildlife Offer application form you can:

A HEFER is not required as part of the application.

To help you apply use the guidance on:

5.2.2 Land that is eligible

The Wildlife Offers can only be located on agricultural land with a declared land use of arable (including temporary grassland) or permanent grassland. All other land uses are excluded from the Wildlife Offers. The offers you choose must match your intended land use in 2023. For a Wildlife Offer agreement starting on 1 January 2024, this is the land use declared for your BPS 2023 application.

If you have an organic farm, you can apply for any of the 4 Wildlife Offers if you have eligible land parcels. However, we strongly recommend that you apply through the Mid Tier route. This will allow you access to the full range of organic management and conversion options.

Land already included in another CS or ES agreement may also be eligible for the Wildlife Offers, provided:

the same action is not being funded twice
the options and items are compatible with each other
the rules set out in section 3.2 are followed
for ES agreements that land must not be under an HLS management option

5.2.3 Land that is not eligible

Land is not eligible for a Wildlife Offer agreement if it is:

designated as an SSSI
currently under an HLS management option
part of an Inheritance Tax Exemption agreement with HMRC - see section 3.12.15 for more information

5.2.4 What to do if you are not eligible for the Wildlife Offers

If you’re not eligible to apply for CS Wildlife Offers, you may be able to apply for a CS Mid Tier or Higher Tier agreement.

A Mid Tier, Higher Tier or standalone capital grants agreement may be more appropriate if you wish to:

manage organic land
manage historic features or specialist habitats such as wetlands and orchards
address water and air quality issues in priority areas
apply for capital grants, such as for hedgerow restoration, natural flood management or for yard works to reduce water and air pollution

5.2.5 Understanding the management requirements of each option

You must be able to meet the management requirements for each option you choose. Section 4.3 sets out the support that is available when choosing options.

5.3 The Wildlife Offers

The following tables show the specific options and eligibility criteria under each of the offers.

5.3.1 The Arable Offer

You must record land use as arable or temporary grassland for the year that you apply. You can include permanent grassland but only hedgerow options can be located on those fields.

The 19 options are divided into 3 categories. You must choose at least one option from each category.

The minimum number of options in the 5-year agreement is 3.

You can choose as many options as you wish but must enter a minimum of 3% of your Agreement Land into the offer.

Table 3: Category 1. Nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds (select at least one, minimum 1% or 1ha per 100ha of Agreement Land included in the agreement, no maximum)

Option	Option title	Payment rate (per ha)
AB1	Nectar flower mix	£614
AB8	Flower-rich margins and plots	£673

Table 4: Category 2. Winter food for seed-eating birds (you must select this option, minimum 2% or 2ha per 100ha Agreement Land included in the agreement, no maximum)

Option	Option title	Payment rate (per ha)
AB9	Winter bird food	£732

Table 5: Category 3. Additional resources and habitats (select at least one, no minimum or maximum, apart from individual option requirements)

If you have a Scheduled Monument present on a land parcel, please select the most appropriate management option to manage that feature. You may wish to speak to your Historic England Adviser.

To maximise the benefits to wildlife, please prioritise options marked with an asterisk*.

Option	Option title	Payment rate
AB3	Beetle banks	£667 per ha
AB4*	Skylark plots	£20.76 per ha (£10.38 per plot, minimum 2 plots per ha)
AB5*	Nesting plots for lapwing	£587 per ha
AB6*	Enhanced overwinter stubble	£522 per ha
AB11*	Cultivated areas for arable plants	£550 per ha
AB12*	Supplementary winter feeding for farmland birds	£669 per tonne for every 2ha of AB9
AB15	2-year sown legume fallow	£593 per ha
AB16	Autumn sown bumblebird mix	£637 per ha
BE3*	Management of hedgerows	£10 per 100m for one side of a hedge
HS1	Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings	£4.42 per m²
HS2	Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivation	£476 per ha
HS3	Reduced-depth, non-inversion cultivation on historic archaeological features	£92 per ha
SW1*	4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land	£451 per ha
SW3	In-field grass strips	£658 per ha
SW4	12m to 24m watercourse or nitrogen sensitive terrestrial habitat buffer strip on cultivated land	£612 per ha
WT2	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	£594 per ha

5.3.2 The Lowland Grazing Offer

You must record land use on your BPS claim as permanent or temporary grassland for the year that you apply. You can include arable fields but only hedgerow options can be located on those fields.

The 11 options are divided into 3 categories in the table below. You must choose at least one option from category 1 and 2 and may choose additional options from category 3 if you wish.

The minimum number of options in the 5-year agreement is 2.

You can choose as many options as you wish but must enter a minimum of 3% of your Agreement Land into the offer.

Table 6: Category 1. Nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds (you must select at least one, minimum 2% or 2ha per 100ha of Agreement Land included in the agreement, no maximum)

Option	Option title	Payment rate (per ha)
GS2	Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDA)	£151
GS4	Legume and herb-rich swards	£382

Table 7: Category 2. Nesting and shelter for insect pollinators and birds (select at least one, minimum 500m of BE3; 1% or 1ha of GS1 per 100ha Agreement Land included in the agreement)

Option	Option title	Payment rate
BE3	Management of hedgerows	£10 per 100m for one side of a hedge
GS1	Take small areas out of management	£333 per ha

Table 8: Category 3. Optional additional resources and habitats (no minimum or maximum, apart from individual option requirements)

Option	Option title	Payment rate
GS3*	Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds	£474 per ha
GS17*	Lenient grazing supplement	£23 per ha
HS1	Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings	£4.42 per m²
HS5	Management of historic and archaeological features on grassland	£44 per ha
SW2	4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland	£235 per ha
WD7	Management of successional areas and scrub	£88 per ha
WT1*	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland	£311 per ha

5.3.3 The Mixed Farming Offer

You must record land use as arable, temporary grassland or permanent grassland for the year that you apply.

The 25 options are divided into 3 categories in the table below. You must choose at least one option from each category.

The minimum number of options in the 5-year agreement is 3.

You can choose as many options as you wish but must enter a minimum of 3% of your Agreement Land into the offer.

Table 9: Category 1. Nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds (select at least one, minimum 1% or 1ha per 100ha of Agreement Land included in the agreement for AB1 and AB8; 2% or 2ha per 100ha for GS4. No maximum)

Option	Option title	Payment rate (per ha)
AB1	Nectar flower mix	£614
AB8	Flower-rich margins and plots	£673
GS4	Legume and herb-rich swards	£382

Table 10: Category 2. Winter food for seed-eating birds (applicants must select this option, minimum 2% or 2ha per 100ha Agreement Land included in the agreement, no maximum)

Option	Option title	Payment rate (per ha)
AB9	Winter bird food	£732

Table 11: Category 3. Additional resources and habitats (select at least one, no minimum or maximum, apart from individual option requirements)

Option	Option title	Payment rate
AB3	Beetle banks	£667
AB5*	Nesting plots for lapwing	£587 per ha
AB6*	Enhanced overwinter stubble	£522 per ha
AB11*	Cultivated areas for arable plants	£550 per ha
AB12*	Supplementary winter feeding for farmland birds	£669 per tonne for every 2ha of AB9 – Winter bird food
AB15	2-year sown legume fallow	£593 per ha
AB16	Autumn sown bumblebird mix	£637 per ha
BE3*	Management of hedgerows	£10 per 100m for one side of a hedge
GS2*	Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs)	£151 per ha
GS17*	Lenient grazing supplement	£23 per ha
HS1	Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings	£4.42 per m²
HS2	Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivation	£476 per ha
HS3	Reduced-depth, non-inversion cultivation on historic and archaeological features	£92 per ha
HS5	Management of historic and archaeological features on grassland	£44 per ha
SW1*	4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land	£451 per ha
SW2	4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland	£235 per ha
SW3	In-field grass strips	£658 per ha
SW4	12m to 24m watercourse or nitrogen sensitive terrestrial habitat buffer strip on cultivated land	£612 per ha
WD7	Management of successional areas and scrub	£88 per ha
WT1*	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland	£311 per ha
WT2*	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	£594 per ha

5.3.4 The Upland Offer

You must record land use as permanent or temporary grassland for the year that you apply. All land in the application must be within the Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA) – if you wish to include land outside the SDA, you will need to apply for a Mid Tier agreement or another Wildlife Offer.

There are 9 options and 3 supplements to choose from. As a minimum, you can choose one base option and 2 supplements, or 2 base options and one supplement, or 3 base options.

You can only use supplements with the relevant base option – see table below.

The minimum number of options or supplements in the 5-year agreement is 3.

You can choose as many options as you wish.

If you have a Scheduled Monument present on a land parcel, please select the most appropriate management option to manage that feature.

To maximise the benefits to wildlife please prioritise options marked with an asterisk*.

Table 12: Base Options (select at least one base option and 2 supplements or 2 base options and one supplement or 3 base options)

Option	Option title	Payment rate
BE3*	Management of hedgerows	£10 per 100m for one side of a hedge
GS5*	Permanent grassland with very low inputs in SDAs	£151 per ha
HS1	Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings	£4.42 per m²
HS5	Management of historic and archaeological features on grassland	£44 per ha
HS8	Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings in remote areas	£6.93 per m²
UP1*	Enclosed rough grazing	£45 per ha
UP2*	Management of rough grazing for birds	£121 per ha
WD7	Management of successional areas and scrub	£88 per ha
WD10	Management of upland wood pasture and parkland	£212 per ha

Table 13: Supplements – GS17 cannot be used on the same area as supplements GS15, GS16 or SP6

Option	Option title	Payment rate (per ha)	Can be used with these base options
GS15	Haymaking supplement	£37	GS5
GS16	Rush control supplement	£79	GS5; UP2
GS17	Lenient grazing supplement	£23	GS5
SP6	Cattle grazing supplement	£39	GS5

5.4 Apply for the Wildlife Offers

Decide which offer is most appropriate for your farm.
Decide which land parcels you wish to include.
Start your application online or contact us to request a pre-populated application form.
The online application will tell you the area of land you need to put into the relevant option categories. Choose your option locations and enter the correct areas. Make sure you meet the minimum requirements.
Fill in your FER – read section 4.7.1 for more information.
For additional information or evidence that you must keep and have available on request, see the CS grant finder. Read sections 6.5 of the agreement holder’s guide for information on photographic evidence (if required).
Check your application and submit it with any supporting documents we ask for by 15 September 2023.

When you accept your agreement, sections 6 and 7 of the agreement holder’s guide and annex 1 (the Terms and Conditions) of the CS Mid Tier and Wildlife Offers will form part of your agreement.

Question 6

Annex 1: Terms and Conditions

Accepted Answer

See the CS Terms and Conditions 2023.

Question 7

Annex 2a: List of Mid Tier multi-year management options and capital items

Accepted Answer

Tables include the code, name and payment rate for each Mid Tier multi-year management option and capital item.

Management options

Table 17

Code	Option name	Option payment rate
AB1	Nectar flower mix	£614 per ha
AB2	Basic overwinter stubble	£58 per ha
AB3	Beetle banks	£667
AB4	Skylark plots	£20.76 per ha (£10.38 per plot, minimum 2 plots per ha)
AB5	Nesting plots for lapwing	£587 per ha
AB6	Enhanced overwinter stubble	£522 per ha
AB7	Whole crop cereals	£584 per ha
AB8	Flower-rich margins and plots	£673 per ha
AB9	Winter bird food	£732 per ha
AB10	Unharvested cereal headland	£822 per ha
AB11	Cultivated areas for arable plants	£550 per ha
AB12	Supplementary winter feeding for farmland birds	£669 per tonne (for every 2ha of winter bird food)
AB14	Harvested low input cereal	£236 per ha
AB15	Two-year sown legume fallow	£593 per ha
AB16	Autumn sown bumblebird mix	£637 per ha
BE1	Protection of in-field trees on arable land	£503 per ha
BE2	Protection of in-field trees on intensive grassland	£295 per ha
BE3	Management of hedgerows	£10 per 100m for one side of a hedge
BE4	Management of traditional orchards	£264 per ha
BE7	Supplement for restorative pruning of fruit trees	£113 per tree
ED1	Educational access	£318 per visit
GS1	Take small areas out of management	£333 per ha
GS2	Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDAs))	£151 per ha
GS3	Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds	£474 per ha
GS4	Legume and herb-rich swards	£382 per ha
GS5	Permanent grassland with very low inputs in SDAs	£151 per ha
GS6	Management of species-rich grassland	£182 per ha
GS9	Management of wet grassland for breeding waders	£353 per ha
GS10	Management of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl	£217 per ha
GS15	Haymaking supplement	£37 per ha
GS16	Rush infestation control supplement	£79 per ha
GS17	Lenient grazing supplement	£23 per ha
HS1	Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings	£4.42 per m²
HS2	Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivation	£476 per ha
HS3	Reduced-depth, non-inversion cultivation on historic and archaeological features	£92 per ha
HS4	Scrub control on historic and archaeological features	£175 per ha
HS5	Management of historic and archaeological features on grassland	£44 per ha
HS6	Maintenance of designed or engineered water bodies	£2,129 per ha
HS8	Maintenance of weatherproof traditional farm buildings in remote areas	£6.93 per m²
HS9	Restricted depth crop establishment to protect archaeology under an arable rotation	£211 per ha
OP1	Overwintered stubble	£176 per ha
OP2	Wild bird seed mixture	£768 per ha
OP3	Supplementary feeding for farmland birds	£887 per tonne (for every 2ha of wild bird seed mixture)
OP4	Multi species ley	£115 per ha
OP5	Undersown cereal	£306 per ha
OR1	Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland	£187 per ha
OR2	Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grassland	£89 per ha
OR3	Organic conversion – rotational land	£296 per ha
OR4	Organic conversion – horticulture	£703 per ha
OR5	Organic conversion – top fruit	£1,920 per ha
OT1	Organic land management – improved permanent grassland	£20 per ha
OT2	Organic land management – unimproved permanent grassland	£36 per ha
OT3	Organic land management – rotational land	£132 per ha
OT4	Organic land management – horticulture	£471 per ha
OT5	Organic land management – top fruit	£1,920 per ha
OT6	Organic land management – enclosed rough grazing	£69 per ha
SP6	Cattle grazing supplement	£39 per ha
SP9	Threatened species supplement (only for corn bunting, brown hair streak butterfly, turtle dove and stone curlew)	£171 per ha
SW1	4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land	£451 per ha
SW2	4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland	£235 per ha
SW3	In-field grass strips	£658 per ha
SW4	12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land	£612 per ha
SW5	Enhanced management of maize crops	£172 per ha
SW6	Winter cover crops	£129 per ha
SW7	Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input	£326 per ha
SW8	Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse	£207 per ha
SW9	Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grassland	£115 per ha
SW10	Seasonal livestock removal on grassland in SDAs next to streams, rivers and lakes	£115 per ha
SW11	Riparian management strip	£596 per ha
SW13	Very low nitrogen inputs to groundwaters	£396 per ha
SW14	Nil fertiliser supplement	£156 per ha
SW17	Raised water levels on cropped or arable on peat soils	£449 per ha
SW18	Raised water levels on grassland on peat soils	£417 per ha
UP1	Enclosed rough grazing	£45 per ha
UP2	Management of rough grazing for birds	£121 per ha
WD3	Woodland edges on arable land	£402 per ha
WD4	Management of lowland wood pasture and parkland	Lowland payment rate (outside SDA) £212 per ha
WD7	Management of successional areas and scrub	£88 per ha
WD8	Creation of successional areas and scrub	£149 per ha
WD9	Livestock exclusion supplement – scrub and successional areas	£74 per ha
WD10	Management of upland wood pasture and parkland	Upland payment rate (inside SDA) £212 per ha
WT1	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland	£311 per ha
WT2	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	£594 per ha
WT3	Management of ditches of high environmental value	£44 per 100m (for the management of both sides of the ditch)

Capital items

Table 18: Boundaries, Trees and Orchards

Code	Item name	Item payment rate
BN1	Stone-faced bank repair	£67.25 per m
BN2	Stone-faced bank restoration	£163.26 per m
BN3	Earth bank creation	£20.59 per m
BN4	Earth bank restoration	£10.54 per m
BN5	Hedgerow laying	£13.52 per m
BN6	Hedgerow coppicing	£5.33 per m
BN7	Hedgerow gapping-up	£17.22 per m
BN8	Hedgerow supplement – casting up	£4.39 per m
BN10	Hedgerow supplement – top binding and staking	£5.82 per m
BN11	Planting new hedges	£22.97 per m
BN12	Stone wall restoration	£31.91 per m
BN13	Top wiring – stone wall	£5.54 per m
BN14	Stone wall supplement – stone from quarry	£164.50 per m
FG12	Wooden field gate	£489.90 per gate
FG14	Badger gates	£61.81 per gate
TE1	Planting standard hedgerow tree	£19.06 per tree
TE3	Planting fruit trees	£28.07 per tree
TE6	Tree guard (tube and mesh)	£3.95 per guard
TE7	Tree guard (wood post and rail)	£109.64 per guard
TE8	Tree guard (wood post and wire)	£132.16 per guard
TE10	Coppicing bank-side trees	£53.95 per tree
TE11	Tree surgery	£73.36 per tree when cutting limbs up to and including 20cm in diameter; £146.72 per tree when cutting limbs over 20cm in diameter

Table 19: Water quality

Code	Item name	Option payment rate
FG1	Fencing	£6.34 per m
FG2	Sheep netting	£7.47 per m
FG3	Permanent electric fencing	£5.66 per m
FG4	Rabbit fencing supplement	£5.65 per m
FG15	Water gates	£532.80 per gate
LV3	Hard bases for livestock drinkers	£179.15 per base
LV4	Hard bases for livestock feeders	£290.63 per base
LV5	Pasture pumps and associated pipework	£295.90 per pump
LV6	Ram pumps and associated pipework	£1,861 per pump
LV7	Livestock troughs	£152.92 per trough
LV8	Pipework associated with livestock troughs	£3.31 per m
RP1	Resurfacing of gateways	£136.95 per gateway
RP2	Gateway relocation	£369.59 per gateway
RP3	Watercourse crossings	£105.63 per crossing
RP4	Livestock and machinery hardcore tracks	£44.63 per m
RP5	Cross drains	£750.26 per drain
RP6	Installation of piped culverts in ditches	£376.23 per culvert
RP7	Sediment ponds and traps	£11.88 per m²
RP9	Earth banks and soil bunds	£195.61 per 100m
RP10	Silt filtration dams or seepage barriers	£198.14 per unit
RP11	Swales	£7.52 per m²
RP12	Check dams and woody debris structures	£85.29 for each dam
RP13	Yard – underground drainage pipework	£2.02 per m
RP14	Yard inspection pit	£200 per unit
RP15	Concrete yard renewal	£33.64 per m²
RP16	Rainwater goods	£11.55 per m
RP17	Storage tanks underground	£441.98 per m³
RP18	Above ground tanks	£73.34 per m³
RP19	First flush rainwater diverters and downpipe filters	£174.59 per unit
RP20	Relocation of sheep dips and pens	£3,544.71 per unit
RP21	Relocation of sheep pens only	£1,772.35 per unit
RP22	Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps	£19.50 per m²
RP23	Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep)	£152.92 per unit
RP24	Lined biobed plus pesticide loading and washdown area	£119.77 per m²
RP25	Lined biobed with existing washdown area	£66.24 per m²
RP26	Biofilters	£2,026.14 per unit
RP27	Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area	£35.86 per m²
RP28	Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores)	£72.50 per m²
WN5	Pond management (100 m² or less)	£282.15 per pond
WN6	Pond management (more than 100 m²)	£188.94 per 100m²

Table 20: Air quality

Code	Item name	Item payment rate
AQ1	Automatic slurry scraper	£2,760 per passageway per channel
AQ2	Low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings	£72 per m²
RP29	Self-supporting covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores	£29.50 per m²
RP30	Floating covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores and lagoons	£2.75 per m²
TE4	Supply and plant a tree	£1.72 per tree
TE5	Supplement for use of individual tree-shelters	£2.43 per unit

Table 21: Natural flood management capital items

Code	Items	Payment rate
PA1	Implementation plan	£1,200 per plan
RP31	Equipment to disrupt tramlines in arable areas	£1,500 per machine
RP32	Small leaky woody dams	£461.39 for each dam
RP33	Large leaky woody dams	£764.42 for each dam
SW15	Flood mitigation on arable reversion to grassland	£493 per ha
SW16	Flood mitigation on permanent grassland	£281 per ha
WN2	Creation of scrapes and gutters	£2.23 per m²

Table 22: Education access and biodiversity capital items

Code	Items	Payment rate
AC2	Countryside educational access visits accreditation	£277.26 per agreement
WB1	Small wildlife box	£11.95 per item
WB2	Medium wildlife box	£27.91 per item
WB3	Large wildlife box	£38.28 per item

Question 8

Annex 2b: Choose Mid Tier options to improve biodiversity or help with species recovery

Accepted Answer

Habitat creation, restoration and management options, or arable options, can improve biodiversity or species recovery in your local area. These options can create or improve habitat connectivity to allow species to:

move or colonise freely to get to food, shelter or breeding habitats
adapt to environmental or climate change

Management options

Table 23

Code	Option name
AB1	Nectar flower mix
AB2	Basic overwinter stubble
AB3	Beetle banks
AB4	Skylark Plots
AB5	Nesting plots for lapwing
AB6	Enhanced overwinter stubble
AB7	Whole crop cereals
AB8	Flower rich margins and plots
AB9	Winter bird food
AB10	Unharvested cereal headland
AB11	Cultivated areas for arable plants
AB12	Supplementary winter feeding for farmland birds
AB15	Two-year sown legume fallow
AB16	Autumn sown bumblebird mix
BE3	Management of hedgerows
BE4	Management of traditional orchards
GS1	Take small areas out of management
GS2	Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs)
GS3	Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds
GS4	Legume and herb-rich swards
GS5	Permanent grassland with very low inputs in SDA
GS9	Management of wet grassland for breeding waders
GS10	Management of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl
GS17	Lenient Grazing Supplement
OP1	Overwintered stubble
OP2	Wild bird seed mixture
OP3	Supplementary feeding for farmland birds
OP4	Multi species ley
OP5	Under sown cereal
OR2	Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grassland
SP6	Cattle grazing supplement
SW1	4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land
SW2	4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland
SW3	In-field grass strips
SW4	12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land
SW5	Enhanced management of maize crops
SW6	Winter cover crops
SW7	Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser inputs
SW8	Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse
SW9	Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grassland
SW10	Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grassland
SW11	Riparian management strip
SW13	Very low nitrogen inputs to groundwaters
SW14	Nil fertiliser supplement
SW17	Raised water levels on cropped or arable land on peat soils
SW18	Raised water levels on grassland on peat soils
UP1	Enclosed rough grazing
UP2	Management of rough grazing for birds
WD2	Woodland improvement
WD3	Woodland edges on arable land
WD7	Management of successional areas and scrub
WD8	Creation of successional areas and scrub
WD9	Livestock exclusion supplement – scrub and successional areas
WT1	Buffering in field ponds and ditches in improved grassland
WT2	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land

Capital items

Table 24

Code	Option name
BN3	Earth bank creation
BN4	Earth bank restoration
BN5	Hedgerow laying
BN6	Hedgerow coppicing
BN7	Hedgerow gapping
BN10	Hedgerow supplement – top binding and staking
BN11	Planting new hedges
BN12	Stone wall restoration
FG1	Fencing
FG2	Sheep netting
FG4	Rabbit fencing supplement
FG14	Badger gates
RP1	Resurfacing of gateways
RP2	Gateway relocation or unit
RP3	Watercourse crossing
RP4	Livestock and machinery hardcore tracks per metre
RP5	Cross drains
RP6	Installation of piped culverts in ditches
RP7	Sediment ponds and traps
RP9	Earth banks and soil bunds
RP10	Silt filtration dams or seepage barriers per unit
RP11	Swales
RP12	Check dams
RP13	Yard – underground drainage pipework per metre
RP14	Yard inspection pit
RP15	Concrete yard renewal
RP16	Rainwater goods
RP17	Storage tanks underground
RP18	Above ground tanks
RP19	First-flush rainwater diverters and down-pipe filters
RP20	Relocation of sheep dips and pens
RP21	Relocation of sheep pens only
RP22	Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps
RP23	Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep) per unit
RP24	Lined biobed plus pesticide loading and washdown area per square metre
RP25	Lined biobed with existing washdown area per square metre
RP26	Biofilters
RP27	Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area
RP28	Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores)
RP29	Self-supporting covers for slurry stores and anaerobic digestate stores
RP30	Floating covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores and lagoons
RP31	Equipment to disrupt tramlines
RP32	Small leaky woody dams
RP33	Large leaky woody dams
TE3	Planting fruit trees
TE4	Woodland tree planting
TE5	Woodland tree planting – tree shelter supplement
WB1	Small wildlife box
WB2	Medium wildlife box
WB3	Large wildlife box
WN5	Pond management (less than 100m²)
WN6	Pond management (more than 100m²)

Question 9

Annex 3: How Mid Tier applications are scored

Accepted Answer

If you apply for Mid Tier options, your application will be assessed on a first come first served basis unless the funding is fully allocated. If it appears that the scheme is likely to be oversubscribed, RPA will publicise this in advance of the full funding being allocated. This will include giving 6 weeks’ notice on GOV.UK in advance of this. However, from the point of this notification, remaining applications will be assessed on a competitive basis with those providing higher environmental benefits given priority.

How to improve your application score

The management options and capital items you choose can affect the score your application receives. If the management options and capital items address an environmental priority in your area, you will get a higher score – see section 4.3.2 for information on how to identify these.

We will give lower scores where your application does not address environmental priorities in your area. This is because the score takes into account the total cost of the agreement in terms of value for money.

You will also get a higher score if you:

use the Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package (WPFWP)
follow the advice provided by Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF)
include an educational access option
are part of a coordinated Facilitation Fund group

Step 1: Score multi-year options in an application

Each feature on your land has a priority level of high, medium or low, as set out in a local priority statement. Each priority level has an associated priority score, as set out in table 25.

The quantity of the option applied for is multiplied by the cumulative priority score for each feature or issue.

The sum of all these scores provides the annual basic score.

There is no score for any options which do not address the features or issues in the local priority statement.

Table 25: Priority level score

Priority level	Priority score
High	1,000
Medium	100
Low	10

Step 2: Score capital items in an application

We score capital items based on the quantity of the item in the application and the priority score of the features or issues addressed.

Scoring will depend on the type of capital item, as shown by table 26.

The sum of the individual capital scores provides a capital basic score.

Table 26: Capital basic score calculations

Quantity	Capital basic score calculations
Length (m)	(Length x 2/10,000 x priority score) x 2
Area (m²)	(Area/10,000 x priority score) x 2
Number (units)	(Number x priority score) x 0.05
Single unit (for example, sheep pen)	Priority score x 4

Step 3: Calculate the overall basic score

Add together the annual basic score and the capital basic score to give the overall basic score.

Step 4: Calculate additional score

If you apply for additional CS elements your application will get a higher score.

You will get a higher score if you:

are part of a wider coordinated Facilitation Fund group
are adopting CSF advice
meet the requirements of the WPFWP in targeted areas
meet the requirements of the WPFWP and your land falls within or touches a ‘hotspot’ area (greatest density of pollinators or farmland birds)
include educational access in your application

If you are part of a wider coordinated Facilitation Fund group, you will get an additional 20% of your basic score.

If you are adopting CSF advice you will receive an additional score as set out in table 27.

Table 27: Priority level score

Priority level	Score
High	5,000
Medium	2,000
Low	100

If you meet the requirements of the WPFWP package in targeted areas, you will get an additional 1,000 points.

If you meet the requirements of the WPFWP package and your land is in or touches a ‘hotspot’ area (greatest density of pollinators or farmland birds), you will get an additional 500 points.

If you include educational access in your application, you will receive an additional 5% of your basic score.

Step 5: Calculate final score (value for money)

The final score is the overall basic score plus any additional scores divided by the first-year cost.

Step 6: Rank all applications

The final score is used to rank all applications.

Question 10

Annex 4: Applying for the Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Packages (WPFWP)

Accepted Answer

The WPFWP support applicants applying for the Mid Tier.

For the Wildlife Offers read section 5.

The WPFWP groups management options together. When used together as a package, these options help you to provide farmland wildlife with the essential resources it needs to thrive and breed successfully.

You can use WPFWP to increase your application’s score. Applications with a higher score are more likely to be offered an agreement.

Benefits for wildlife

The WPFWP helps you support local wildlife, such as:

wild pollinators – solitary bees and bumble bees
farmland birds – grey partridge, skylark and yellowhammer
other farm wildlife – rare arable plants, great crested newts, bats and brown hare

How the WPFWP works

There are 3 wildlife packages to choose from:

arable
mixed
pastoral

If you have a mixed farm, you do not have to apply for a mixed package. For example, you may apply for the arable package, excluding grassland, if the arable options are better suited to your farm.

Each package includes a range of management options. These options help you to provide essential resources for wildlife including:

nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds
nesting, hibernation and shelter for insect pollinators and birds
winter food for seed-eating birds

You can choose as many options from the package as you want. Generally, choosing more options is better for farm wildlife, as you will provide a greater range of habitats and food or nesting resources. As with all Mid Tier, you must meet the management requirements for each of the options you choose.

You can choose to add any other appropriate Mid Tier options and capital items to your application with WPFWP.

Section 4.3.3 sets out the support that is available when choosing options.

You must:

choose at least one option from each of the mandatory resource categories in your package
meet the minimum hectare requirements for each of your chosen options (minimum length in metres for hedge options)
make sure that the area covered by the package options is at least 3% of the total area of Agreement Land included in your application

Scoring and the WPFWP

As with any Mid Tier application, we will give every option in your application a basic score. As long as you meet the minimum requirements of the package, we will also give you a bonus points score. If any of the land parcels include a hotspot for farmland birds or wild pollinators, you will get a scoring bonus. Find the location of hotspots in your local statement of priorities.

If your application does not meet the minimum package requirement, we will not give you bonus points.

You can find all information on scoring in annex 3.

Eligible land

The WPWFP can only be located on land declared with a land use of arable land, including temporary grassland, and permanent grassland. All other land uses are excluded from this package. Your declared land use must match the offer you choose. You must also meet the eligibility criteria for the Mid Tier – see section 3.

Tools to help you decide how much land to include

Use the Mid Tier wild pollinator and farm wildlife package calculators to help you work out how much land to include in each option.

Not all fields need to be included in your application for WPFWP, it can cover either the whole or part of your farm.

You must meet the minimum requirements of your chosen package.

You can choose to include more land than the minimum in your application. The maximum figures provided in the tables in this section are for guidance only. You can apply for more than the maximum but you will only receive the basic points for that option (but no extra package points).

Maximise the benefit for farmed wildlife

To increase the impact of the WPFWP package:

choose more management options and spread the location of the options across the farm
select both legume and perennial flower-based mixes as these will provide nectar and pollen sources for a longer period of time over the summer and autumn
spread options delivering nectar and pollen across the farm, so that it benefits as many wild pollinators and birds as possible
choose the hedgerow management option – well-managed hedgerows can provide valuable spring foraging for wild pollinators, as well as good nesting habitat for birds
create a mixture of habitats, from tussocky, uncut grass to areas of warm, dry, bare ground that remain undisturbed for the breeding cycle to provide wild pollinators and farmland birds places to nest, shelter and overwinter or hibernate
provide both annual and biennial wild bird seed mixes as they will benefit a broader range of farmland birds
place skylark plots over some or all of the area of winter cereal crops
stubble following a crop of spring-sown barley
consider selecting one or more additional options to focus on particular species or features

How to build a Mid Tier WPFWP

Work out the area of land that is eligible and decide how much to include in your application.
Use the tables to choose the package that is right for your farm. You can choose from arable, mixed or pastoral packages.
Make sure any Scheduled Monuments on your land are managed appropriately.
Use the tables to choose your options. You must choose at least one option from each mandatory resource category. Generally choosing more options is better for farmed wildlife.
Choose how many hectares you want to enter into each option (how many metres for hedgerows).
Make sure you meet the minimum requirements of the package. To help with your calculations you can use the Mid Tier wild pollinator and farm wildlife package calculators. You can also use the information in the tables to make your calculations.
Fill in your Mid Tier application form as set out in section 4, adding in any other options and capital items that you wish to apply for.

Use the WPFWP tables

There is a table for each package: arable, pastoral or mixed farm.

The minimum and maximum amounts of each resource (for 100ha of eligible land) are given in the tables. You should adjust these on a ‘pro rata’ basis. For example, if you have 250ha of eligible land, then multiply the quantities by 2.5.

Mid Tier package for arable farms

In total, the options you choose must cover at least 3% of the eligible land included in your application. You should apply the percentage calculation to the total area of arable land, temporary grassland and permanent grassland in the application.

Essential resources for wild pollinators and farmland birds

Table 28: Nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds

Select one or more of the following options from each essential resource (mandatory)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
AB1 Nectar flower mix	1ha in total	3ha in total
AB8 Flower-rich margins and plots	1ha in total	3ha in total
AB15 Two-year sown legume fallow	1ha in total	3ha in total
AB16 Autumn sown bumblebird mix	1ha in total	3ha in total
AB11 Cultivated areas for arable plants (no more than 25% of the total resource area)	1ha in total	3ha in total

Table 29: Winter food for seed-eating birds

You can choose to make-up your winter seed resources using just one of these options or a combination. Use the Mid Tier wild pollinator and farm wildlife package calculators in your application form to help with the calculations.

Select one or more of the following options from each essential resource (mandatory)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
AB9 Winter bird food (or OP2 Wild bird seed mixture)	2ha	3ha
AB6 Enhanced overwinter Stubble	5ha	7.5ha
AB2 Basic overwinter stubble (or OP1 Overwintered stubble)	10ha	15ha

Additional resources

Table 30: Hedgerows

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
BE3 Management of hedgerows	500m	2,000m

Table 31: In-field breeding habitats for skylarks in winter cereal-dominated landscapes

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
AB4 Skylark plots	2 per ha of winter wheat	2 per ha of winter wheat

Table 32: Ponds and ditches

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
WT2 Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	As required	As required

Mid Tier package for pastoral farms

In total, the options you choose must cover at least 2.5% of the permanent and temporary grassland included in your application. In addition, a minimum of 500m per 100ha of eligible land must be entered into option BE3 (management of hedgerows).

You must record the land use for the year you are applying as permanent or temporary grassland. You can include arable fields but only hedgerow options can be located on those fields.

Essential resources for wild pollinators and farmland birds

Table 33: Nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds

Select one or more of the following options from each essential resource (mandatory)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
GS4 Legume and herb-rich swards (or OP4 Multi-species ley)	2ha in total	4ha in total
GS2 Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs)	2ha in total	4ha in total

Table 34: Nesting, hibernation and sheltering habitat

Select one or more of the following options from each essential resource (mandatory)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
GS1 Take small areas out of management	0.5ha	2ha

Table 35: Hedgerows

Select one or more of the following options from each essential resource (mandatory)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
BE3 Management of hedgerows	500m	2,000m

Additional resources

Table 36: Variable grassland sward structure to provide insect-rich foraging for birds

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
GS17 Lenient grazing supplement	1ha	4ha

Table 37: Winter food for seed-eating birds

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
GS3 Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds	2ha	3ha

Table 38: Ponds and ditches

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
WT1 Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland	As required	As required

Mid Tier package for mixed farms

In total the options you choose must cover at least 3% of the eligible land included in your package. You should apply the percentage calculation to the total area of arable land, temporary grassland and permanent grassland in the application.

Essential resources for wild pollinators and farmland birds

Table 39: Nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds

Select one or more of the following options from each essential resource (mandatory)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
AB1 Nectar flower mix	2ha	3ha
AB8 Flower-rich margins and plots	2ha	3ha
AB15 Two-year sown legume fallow	2ha	3ha
AB16 Autumn sown bumblebird mix	2ha	3ha
AB11 Cultivated areas for arable plants (no more than 25% of the total resource area)	2ha	3ha
GS4 Legume and herb-rich swards (or OP4 Multi-species ley)	1ha	3ha
GS2 Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs)	1ha	3ha
GS17 Lenient grazing supplement	1ha	3ha

Table 40: Winter food for seed-eating birds

You can choose to make-up your winter seed resources using just one of these options or a combination. Use the Mid Tier wild pollinator and farm wildlife package calculators in your application form to help with the calculations.

Select one or more of the following options from each essential resource (mandatory)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
AB9 Winter bird food (or OP2 Wild bird seed mixture)	2ha	3ha
GS3 Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds	2ha	3ha
AB6 Enhanced overwinter Stubble	5ha	7.5ha
AB2 Basic overwinter stubble (or OP1 Overwintered stubble)	10ha	15ha
AB7 Whole crop cereals	10ha	15ha

Additional resources

Table 41: Hedgerows

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
BE3 Management of hedgerows	500m	2,000m

Table 42: Ponds and ditches

Select one or more options as appropriate (optional)	Minimum quantity required per 100ha of application land	Maximum quantity required per 100ha of application land
WT2 Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	As required	As required

Table 43: Worked examples of what a Mid Tier WPFWP could look like in different farm scenarios

Farm scenario	Area of application land to be considered for CS	Package chosen	Typical options to meet the minimum requirements of essential resources	Annual payment for undertaking these options	Additional options to consider	Comments
Arable farm on heavy land, mainly winter cropping, with some high quality hedgerows	250ha	Arable	1.5ha AB1 Nectar flower mix 1ha AB8 Flower-rich margins and plots 5ha AB9 Winter bird food	£4,696.50	BE3 Management of hedgerows AB4 Skylark plots	Spread AB1 and AB9 across the farm, and split AB9 between annual and biennial mixtures
Arable farm on light soil with some spring cropping, good for arable flora and no high quality hedgerows	100ha	Arable	0.5ha AB1 Nectar flower mix 0.25ha AB8 Flower rich margins and plots 0.25ha AB11 Cultivated area for arable plants 10ha AB2 Basic overwinter stubble	£1,162.50	AB4 Skylark plots	Consider substituting AB9 Winter bird food or AB6 Enhanced overwinter stubble for some or all of AB2
100% grass farm that has some quality hedgerows, semi and unimproved grassland and some ponds	50ha	Pastoral	0.5ha GS2 Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs) 0.5ha GS4 Legume and herb-rich swards 0.25ha GS1 Take small areas out of management 250m BE3 Management of hedgerows	£373.25	GS17 Lenient grazing supplement GS3 Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds WT1 Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland	Consider GS3 and GS17 in areas with good numbers of seed-eating farmland birds, such as yellowhammers
Mixed farm on heavy soil with high quality hedgerows and some unimproved grassland	200ha	Mixed	4ha GS2 Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs) 4ha GS4 Legume and herb-rich swards 4ha AB9 Winter bird food	£4,520	BE3 Management of hedgerows	If there is silage on the farm, consider substituting some GS3 for part AB9

Summary of resources

Resource 1 – nectar and pollen sources for insect pollinators and insect-rich foraging for birds

Options include:

Nectar flower mix (AB1)
Flower rich margins and plots (AB8)
Cultivated areas for arable plants (AB11)
2-year sown legume fallow (AB15)
Autumn sown bumblebird mix (AB16)
Management of hedgerows (one or both sides) (BE3)
Legume and herb-rich swards (GS4)
Multi-species ley (organic) (OP4)

Resource 2 – nesting, hibernation and sheltering habitat for insect pollinators and birds

Options include:

Skylark plots (AB4)
Flower rich margins and plots (AB8)
Cultivated areas for arable plants (AB11)
Management of hedgerows (one or both sides) (BE3)
Taking small areas out of management (GS1)
Permanent grassland with very low inputs (GS2)
Lenient grazing supplement (GS17)

Resource 3 – winter food for seed-eating birds

Options include:

Basic overwinter stubble (AB2)
Enhanced overwinter stubble (AB6)
Whole crop cereals (AB7)
Winter bird food (AB9)
Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds (GS3)
Overwinter stubble (organic) (OP1)
Wild bird seed mixture (organic) (OP2)

Question 11

Annex 5: Actions to address water and air quality and natural flood management

Accepted Answer

You can find the water and air quality objectives for your local area in your local statement of priorities. If your application meets local water, air quality or natural flood management priorities, you will receive a higher score.

You can use the CS Online Tool to help you identify the types of management options and capital items that you can use to address water, air quality and flood management priorities in the local area. To access the CS Online Tool sign in to your Rural Payments account.

Help and support for you to choose the right options

You can use the MAGIC website to find water and air quality information for your land. On the list in the Table of Contents, choose:

‘Countryside Stewardship Targeting & Scoring Layers’
‘Water’
‘Countryside Stewardship Water Quality Priority Areas’

You can then make this layer transparent by using the slider under ‘Countryside Stewardship Targeting & Scoring Layers’. You will need to navigate to your land and then use the ‘Identify’ tool to check the information specific to your land parcels. This provides the issues which are relevant to your area and their priority level.

Table 44 shows a list of management options and capital items that improve water and air quality, plus reducing flood risk.

You can use this table to identify the relevant management options and capital items which will help to address the water quality, air quality and flood risk issues in your local area.

Table 44: Management options and capital items that address water quality, air quality and flood risk

Code	Water quality, air quality and flood risk issues
AB1 – Nectar flower mix	Phosphate and sediment – surface water
AB3 – Beetle banks	Ammonia – air quality Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
AB6 – Enhanced overwinter stubble	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
AB8 – Flower-rich margins and plots	Ammonia – air quality Phosphate and sediment – surface water
AB10 – Unharvested cereal headland	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – surface water Nitrate – ground water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
AB11 – Cultivated areas for arable plants	Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
AB15 – 2-year sown legume fallow	Ammonia – air quality Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
GS1 – Take small areas out of management	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
GS2 – Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs)	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
GS4 – Legume and herb-rich swards	Ammonia – air quality Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
GS5 – Permanent grassland with very low inputs in SDAs	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
GS6 – Management of species rich grassland	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
HS2 – Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivation	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
OR1 – Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland	Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
OR2 – Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grassland	Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
OR3 – Organic conversion – rotational land	Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
OR4 – Organic conversion – horticulture	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
SW1 – 4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land	Ammonia – air quality Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW2 – 4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland	Ammonia – air quality Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW3 – In-field grass strips	Ammonia – air quality Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW4 – 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land	Ammonia – air quality Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW5 – Enhanced management of maize crops	Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW6 – Winter cover crops	Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW7 – Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input	Ammonia – air quality Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW8 – Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW9 – Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grassland	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW10 – Seasonal livestock removal on grassland in SDAs next to streams, rivers and lakes	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW11 – Riparian management strip	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW14 – Nil fertiliser supplement	Ammonia – air quality Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
SW15 – Flood mitigation on arable reversion to grassland	Natural flood management
SW16 – Flood mitigation on permanent grassland	Natural flood management
WD3 – Woodland edges on arable land	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
WD4 – Management of lowland wood pasture and parkland	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
WD10 – Management of upland wood pasture and parkland	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
WT1 – Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
WT2 – Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
AQ1 – Automatic slurry scraper	Ammonia – air quality
AQ2 – Low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings	Ammonia – air quality
BN7 – Hedgerow gapping-up	Ammonia – air quality Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
BN11 – Planting new hedges	Ammonia – air quality Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
FG1 – Fencing	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
FG2 – Sheep netting	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
FG3 – Permanent electric fencing	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
FG4 – Rabbit fencing supplement	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
FG12 – Wooden field gate	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
FG15 – Water gates	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
LV3 – Hard bases for livestock drinkers	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
LV4 – Hard bases for livestock feeders	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
LV5 – Pasture pumps and associated pipework	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
LV6 – Ram pumps and associated pipework	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
LV7 – Livestock troughs	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
LV8 – Pipework associated with livestock troughs	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP1 – Resurfacing of gateways	Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP2 – Gateway relocation	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP3 – Watercourse crossings	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP4 – Livestock and machinery hardcore tracks	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP5 – Cross drains	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP6 – Installation of piped culverts in ditches	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP7 – Sediment ponds and traps	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP9 – Earth banks and soil bunds	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP10 – Silt filtration dams or seepage barriers	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP11 – Swales	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP12 – Check dams and woody debris structures	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP13 – Yard – underground drainage pipework	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP14 – Yard inspection pit	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP15 – Concrete yard renewal	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP16 – Rainwater goods	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP17 – Storage tanks underground	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP18 – Above ground tanks	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP19 – First flush rainwater diverters and downpipe filters	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP20 – Relocation of sheep dips and pens	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP21 – Relocation of sheep pens only	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP22 – Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP23 – Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep)	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP24 – Lined biobed plus pesticide loading and washdown area	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP25 – Lined biobed with existing washdown area	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP26 – Bio filters	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP27 – Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area	Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water
RP28 – Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores, silage stores)	Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP29 – Self-supporting covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP30 – Floating covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores and lagoons	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP31 – Equipment to disrupt tramlines in arable areas	Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
RP32 – Small leaky woody dams	Natural flood management
RP33 – Large leaky woody dams	Natural flood management
TE1 – Planting standard hedgerow tree	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
TE3 – Planting fruit trees	Ammonia – air quality Natural flood management Phosphate and sediment – surface water
TE4 – Supply and plant a tree	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
TE5 – Supplement for use of individual tree-shelters	Ammonia – air quality Faecal indicator organisms – bathing water Natural flood management Nitrate – ground water Nitrate – surface water Pesticides – ground water Pesticides – surface water Phosphate and sediment – surface water
WN2 – Creation of scrapes and gutters	Natural flood management

Land management options and capital items requiring Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) approval

You can only include some management options and capital items in your agreement with the support and approval of CSF. If you apply for these and do not have approval, we will remove them from your application.

To receive support and approval from CSF, the management options and capital items you apply for must address the water or air pollutants identified as affecting that catchment or area. You will need to clearly show how the pollutants are currently reaching a watercourse or underground aquifer. In the case of air, you will need to identify where the ammonia emissions are coming from, and with both water and air you will need to show how the work you want to do, will prevent these losses. The impact of a water pollutant or ammonia on a sensitive protected site will be considered as part of this.

CSF can only consider applications and approve management options and capital items where they:

improve water quality by reducing diffuse water pollution from agriculture
reduce flood risk by using flood management measures
improve air quality by reducing ammonia emissions
address a priority pollutant in the catchment or area

In some cases, work may be needed over several years, which means you may need to submit a series of applications. You will need to agree with CSF how this work is phased.

The management options and capital items which require CSF approval are:

AQ1: Automatic slurry scraper
AQ2: Low ammonia emission flooring for livestock buildings
PA2: Feasibility study
RP4: Livestock and machinery hardcore tracks
RP13: Yard – underground drainage pipework
RP14: Yard Inspection pit
RP15: Concrete yard renewal
RP17: Storage tanks underground
RP18: Above ground tanks
RP19: First flush rainwater diverters and downpipe filters
RP20: Relocation of sheep dips and pens
RP21: Relocation of sheep pens only
RP22: Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps
RP23: Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep)
RP24: Lined biobed plus loading and washdown area
RP25: Lined biobed with existing washdown area
RP27: Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area
RP28: Roofing (sprayer washdown area, manure storage area, livestock gathering area, slurry stores and silage stores
RP29: Self-supporting covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores
RP30: Floating covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores and lagoons
RP31: Equipment to disrupt tramlines in arable areas
RP32: Small leaky woody dams
RP33: Large leaky woody dams
SW7: Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input
SW8: Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse
SW14: Nil fertiliser supplement
SW15: Flood mitigation on arable reversion to grassland
SW16: Flood mitigation on permanent grassland
TE4: Supply and plant a tree
TE5: Supplement for use of individual tree-shelter
WN2: Creation of scrapes and gutters

If you want to apply for these management options and capital items, follow these steps.

Refer to the local statement of priorities and the MAGIC website (see above) to identify the water and air quality objectives and flood issues for your area.
Check to make sure that the management options and capital items you want address the priorities and issues in your area.
Download the CSF support request form.
Complete the form, explaining how your application and the management options and capital items you wish to apply for will:

improve water quality
improve air quality
reduce flood risk
address a priority pollutant in the catchment or area

5. Send the completed form to the relevant CSF e-mail address at least 10 weeks before you intend to submit your application.

CSF will use the information in this form to assess whether it is able to support your application. Unfortunately, if demand outstrips available CSF resource, then there is no guarantee that all requests will be considered during this CS MT window.

Question 12

Annex 6: Livestock record-keeping requirements on arable and grassland

Accepted Answer

You must read and meet the requirements detailed in this annex as these are mandatory for all Mid Tier agreement holders.

This annex provides the detail of the livestock record keeping requirements that apply to CS agreement holders. This will help you show that you are managing the land in accordance with your agreement.

The requirements are in addition to those set out in sections 6.2.4 and 6.6.1 of the agreement holder’s guide.

If you have a CS agreement that has options for grazing management these options may require you to keep livestock records. See the CS grant finder for individual option requirements.

If you do not keep the required livestock records, it is a breach of the option management rules and we may apply reductions. See section 7.5 of the agreement holder’s guide for more information.

How to keep livestock records

At parcel level

You must keep livestock records for each land parcel that includes at least one of the options in either 1a – Parcel level records or 2a – Parcel level records of annex 6a and at least one of the options in 3a – Parcel level records of annex 6b (if you choose to graze livestock).

You do not need to keep parcel specific records for parcels that do not contain these options.

You may keep one record in a grassland unit if you manage several units next to it in a block or rotation. Stocking density must have been set for the block as a whole.

If there is a maximum stocking density for a block, you must keep to that level when stock numbers are averaged across the block.

If there is a minimum stocking density set for a block, you must keep to that level when stock numbers are averaged across the block

You should also keep farm level livestock records unless that grassland unit represents your whole farm.

At farm level

You must make sure there is not over or under-grazing, or more intensive grazing, if your agreement includes at least one of the options in:

1b – Farm level records
2b – Farm level records of annex 6a
3b – Farm level records of annex 6b

See section 6.2.4 of the agreement holder’s guide for more information.

You must keep livestock records as evidence that you have kept to the maximum stocking density required on your farm. The maximum stocking density for Mid Tier is not more than:

2.5 livestock units (LU) per hectare (ha) on non-Severely Disadvantaged Area (non-SDA) land
2.0 LU per ha on SDA land

Record and keep livestock records

You can keep electronic or paper livestock records.

You can use the livestock record-keeping templates to help you.

It is important to keep your records up to date and for 7 years after your agreement ends.

If a problem occurs, you can use your records as evidence of when the problem started, and its extent. This may limit any reductions.

Your records must include the:

agreement reference number, agreement holder’s name and the calendar year (so the data can be linked to a particular agreement and the correct year)
name of the person who entered the record (to make it easier to check if there is a difference)
date of the record (to show the data has been recorded in a timely way)

Your parcel level records must clearly show:

the parcel number(s) so that the data is linked to the relevant parcel (or parcels – when adjacent parcels are managed as one unit)
the option code that applies to the parcel(s) so that the data is compared with the relevant requirement
the area of the relevant option within that parcel(s) so that livestock density calculations are carried out correctly
present on the option parcel to show that grazing has taken place within the prescribed periods and (where appropriate) that the livestock density has been calculated correctly

You may need to record the species, age bracket and number of livestock on each option parcel if your agreement includes a minimum or maximum livestock density or a livestock calendar.

You only need to keep records for the livestock types set out in annex 6c.

You will need to consider the age of the livestock so that you can convert livestock numbers into livestock units. You can assess the age of the animals visually or use any other records available.

Farm level records

To make sure livestock density calculations are carried out correctly, your farm level records must include:

livestock present on the farm on the 15th day of each month
the area of the farm

You will need to record the species, age bracket and number of all the livestock on your farm. Recording numbers each month means you can calculate an annual stocking density.

You only need to keep records for the livestock types set out in annex 6c.

You will need to consider the age of the livestock so that you can convert livestock numbers into livestock units. You can assess of the age of the animals visually or use any other records available.

The area of your farm is the agricultural area (the area of arable land, permanent grassland and permanent pasture, or permanent crops) of all agricultural land on the farm or production unit where the agreement is located (temporary grazing or summer grass keep does not count towards the ‘area of the farm’).

You must read and meet the requirements detailed in this Annex as these are mandatory for all Mid Tier agreement holders.

Options with restrictions

You only need to keep parcel-level livestock records for the period when the restrictions on grazing apply.

How often you should update your records

Options listed in 1a – Parcel level records of annex 6a

You should update your records to show the new total number, species and age bracket of animals each time you move animals on or off a land parcel.

Options listed in 2a – Parcel level records of annex 6a

You should update your records to show when grazing periods start and stop. This will provide evidence that you are meeting the required numbers in the recommended management of the option.

Options listed in annex 6b (options that require exclusion of livestock)

You will make an annual declaration on your CS claim form that you have met the requirements of your agreement, which will be evidence that the exclusion has taken place.

Farm level records: update monthly

You do not need to record temporary changes in numbers, when removal and return of livestock happen on the same day, for example, cows at daily milking time. However, you should make sure that any maximum livestock density is not exceeded on a land parcel covered by an option.

Question 13

Annex 6a: Countryside Stewardship livestock record keeping requirements

Accepted Answer

1 – Countryside Stewardship options with a livestock calendar or a livestock density requirement, or both

1a – Parcel level records

You can use the parcel level record-keeping template.

Some CS options may require you to keep a stocking record to show how you have complied with the stocking rate requirements of an option. For those options, you will need to keep records that are detailed enough to identify the stocking density on the relevant parcels during these periods.

These options are:

GS9 Management of wet grassland for breeding waders
SP6 Cattle grazing supplement
UP2 Management of rough grazing for birds

Your records must include the:

agreement reference number
agreement start date
agreement holder’s name
calendar year
date of each record

If your option does not include this requirement, then your records should follow the conditions set out in whichever applies in:

2 – Countryside Stewardship options with simple grazing requirements
3 – Countryside Stewardship livestock exclusion options

For each parcel, your records must link together the parcel number with the:

CS option code
area of the CS option within the parcel
number, species and age bracket of livestock present
dates when they are present

This data enables you to calculate the livestock density on each parcel to determine how you have met your stocking requirements.

For SP6 this data will allow you to determine the ratio of cattle to sheep.

Your records will need to take into consideration the age of the livestock to allow livestock numbers to be converted into livestock units. You can make a visual assessment of the age of the animals concerned or use any other records available.

You only need to keep parcel level livestock records for the period when the restrictions on grazing, within the option, apply. You will find these periods in your option recommended management.

If you are managing parts of a parcel differently – for example by using temporary fencing to exclude grazing from a buffer strip – your records need to reflect the relevant requirements for each part parcel.

You may keep one record in a grassland unit if you manage several units next to it in a block or rotation. Stocking density must have been set for the block as a whole.

If an option also has a stock exclusion period, then the annual declaration on your CS claim form will be evidence that the exclusion has taken place (see 3a – Parcel level records).

If you have an option and a supplement such as SP6 Cattle grazing supplement on an area of GS10 Management of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl you will need to keep records that are relevant to both the underpinning option and the supplement on each parcel (or parcels if managed as a single unit).

1b – Farm level records

You can use the farm level record keeping template for:

GS9 Management of wet grassland for breeding waders
UP2 Management of rough grazing for birds

The maximum livestock density for your farm will be included in your Agreement Document. Your records must demonstrate that you have kept within that limit.

The maximum livestock density is an annual average figure and should be calculated by adding together the density for each month of the calendar year and dividing by 12.

The monthly density must be calculated on the basis of the livestock present on your farm on the 15th of each month. Effectively each month will contribute one twelfth towards the annual figure.

You can exceed the maximum at times during the calendar year, as long as there are other times when you are sufficiently below the maximum.

Your records will need to include the age of the livestock on the farm or production unit where the agreement is located. You can then convert these livestock numbers into livestock units to calculate the livestock density. You can make a visual assessment of the age of the animals concerned but you might find it easier to use other records that are available.

For calculating the livestock density on your farm, the area of your farm is the agricultural area (the area of arable land, permanent grassland and permanent pasture, or permanent crops) of all agricultural land on the farm or production unit where the agreement is located.

2 – CS options with simple grazing requirements

2a – Parcel level records

Some CS options have simple grazing requirements that are not density specific. For example, AB8 includes, ‘Cut or graze up to 90% of the margin or plot area each year between 15 August and 31 October to leave a plant height of between 10cm and 20cm. Leave at least 10% of the area uncut or un-grazed’. Or GS6 which includes, ‘manage the grassland by grazing, hay cutting, or a mixture of both’.

If you choose to graze, then your records need to show evidence of when this took place.

If you choose to manage the land without grazing, then there is no need to keep a grazing record for the parcel (but you will need to meet the relevant control requirements which might apply). CS options with simple grazing requirements include:

AB8 Flower-rich margins and plots
BE4 Management of traditional orchards
GS1 Take small areas out of management
GS4 Legume and herb-rich swards
GS6 Management of species-rich grassland
GS16 Rush infestation control supplement
GS17 Lenient grazing supplement
OP4 Multi species ley
SW13 (Very low nitrogen inputs to groundwaters)
UP1 Enclosed rough grazing
WD7 Management of successional areas and scrub
WD8 Creation of successional areas and scrub

If you have managed the option land by grazing, then you need to keep parcel level livestock records. These must include the:

agreement reference number
agreement start date
agreement holder’s name
calendar year
date of each record

For each parcel, you should record the dates between which grazing took place and the numbers of stock grazing.

If an option has a stock exclusion period, then your annual declaration on your CS claim form will be evidence that the exclusion has taken place (see 3 – CS livestock exclusion options in annex 6b).

Parcel-level livestock records only need to be kept for the period when the restrictions on grazing, within the option, apply. You will find these periods in your option recommended management.

2b – Farm level records

If your agreement allows you to graze at some point in the year and you choose to graze you will need to keep a livestock record for your farm, as set out in 1B – Farm level records. This will show that you have complied with the maximum stocking density for your farm and that you have not intensified livestock production.

If you do not graze this land at all during the calendar year, you do not need to keep farm level records, unless another option in your agreement requires that these records should be kept.

If you use grazing in some years to manage your options, but not in others, your requirement to keep farm level records might change from year to year. This applies to the options:

BE4 Management of traditional orchards
GS1 Take small areas out of management
GS6 Management of species-rich grassland
GS17 Lenient grazing supplement
SW13 (Vert low nitrogen inputs to groundwaters)
UP1 Enclosed rough grazing
WD7 Management of successional areas and scrub
WD8 Creation of successional areas and scrub

Question 14

Annex 6b: Options that require exclusion of livestock

Accepted Answer

Includes options that require exclusion of livestock for a part or the whole of the year. Also explains when to keep parcel level livestock records and farm level records.

3 – CS livestock exclusion options

3a – Parcel level records

There is a group of options that require the exclusion of livestock for a part or whole of the year. This group includes:

AB1 Nectar flower mix
AB6 Enhanced overwinter stubble
AB7 Whole crop cereals
GS3 Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds
GS10 Management of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl
GS15 Haymaking supplement
OP1 Overwintered stubble
SW3 In-field grass strips
SW4 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land
SW7 Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input
SW8 Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse
SW9 Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grassland
SW10 Seasonal livestock removal on grassland in SDAs next to streams, rivers and lakes
SW11 Riparian management strip
WD4 Management of lowland wood pasture and parkland
WD9 Livestock exclusion supplement – scrub and successional areas
WD10 Management of upland wood pasture and parkland

If you have complied with the exclusion requirements, then you do not have to keep parcel level livestock records. Instead, the annual declaration on your CS claim form will be evidence that the exclusion has taken place. If your agreement allows you to graze at some point in the year and you choose to graze, then you need to keep parcel level livestock records as set out in 2a – Parcel level records in annex 6a.

3b – Farm level records

If your agreement allows you to graze at some point in the year and you choose to graze you will need to keep a livestock record for your farm, as set out in 1b – Farm level records in annex 6a. This will show evidence that you have complied with the maximum stocking density for your farm and that you have not intensified livestock production.

If you do not graze this land at all during the calendar year you do not need to keep farm level records unless another option in your agreement requires that these records should be kept.

If you use grazing in some years to manage your options, but not in others, your requirement to keep farm level records might change from year to year. This applies to the options:

AB1 Nectar flower mix
AB6 Enhanced overwinter stubble
AB7 Whole crop cereals
GS3 Ryegrass seed-set as winter food for birds
GS10 Management of wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl
GS15 Haymaking supplement
OP1 Overwintered stubble
SW3 (In-field grass strips)
SW4 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land
SW7 Arable reversion to grassland with low fertiliser input
SW8 Management of intensive grassland adjacent to a watercourse
SW9 Seasonal livestock removal on intensive grassland
SW10 Seasonal livestock removal on grassland in SDAs next to streams, rivers and lakes
WD4 Management of lowland wood pasture and parkland
WD9 Livestock exclusion supplement – scrub and successional areas
WD10 Management of upland wood pasture and parkland

Question 15

Annex 6c: Convert livestock numbers into livestock units

Accepted Answer

Use table 45 in this annex to convert livestock numbers into livestock units (LUs).

Table 45

Animal	LUs
Cattle over 2 years	1.0
Cattle over 6 months to 2 years	0.6
Lowland ewe and lamb; ram	0.12
Store lamb, hill ewe and lamb; hogg; teg	0.08
Horse	1.0
Pony or donkey	0.8
Goat	0.12

Question 16

Annex 7: Integrated pest management (IPM)

Accepted Answer

IPM emphasises the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms.

The options in table 46 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. More information on IPM can be found on the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) websites.

Table 46: IPM option payment rates

Code	Option name	Option payment rate
AB1	Nectar flower mix	£614 per ha
AB2	Basic overwinter stubble	£58 per ha
AB3	Beetle banks	£667
AB6	Enhanced overwinter stubble	£522 per ha
AB7	Whole crop cereals	£584 per ha
AB8	Flower-rich margins and plots	£673 per ha
AB9	Winter bird food	£732 per ha
AB10	Unharvested cereal headland	£822 per ha
AB11	Cultivated areas for arable plants	£550 per ha
AB14	Harvested low input cereal	£236 per ha
AB15	2-year sown legume fallow	£593 per ha
AB16	Autumn sown bumblebird mix	£637 per ha
BE1	Protection of in-field trees on arable land	£503 per ha
BE2	Protection of in-field trees on intensive grassland	£295 per ha
BE3	Management of hedgerows	£10 per 100m for one side of a hedge
BN11	Planting new hedges	£22.97 per m
GS1	Take field corners out of management	£333 per ha
GS2	Permanent grassland with very low inputs (outside SDAs)	£151 per ha
GS4	Legume and herb-rich swards	£382 per ha
GS5	Permanent grassland with very low inputs in SDAs	£151 per ha
GS6	Management of species-rich grassland	£182 per ha
OP2	Wild bird seed mixture	£768 per ha
OP3	Supplementary feeding for farmland birds *4 for every 2ha of wild bird seed mixture	£887 per tonne *4
OP4	Multi species ley	£115 per ha
OP5	Undersown cereal	£306 per ha
OR1	Organic conversion – improved permanent grassland	£187 per ha
OR2	Organic conversion – unimproved permanent grassland	£89 per ha
OR3	Organic conversion – rotational land	£296 per ha
OR4	Organic conversion – horticulture	£703 per ha
OR5	Organic conversion – top fruit	£1,920 per ha
OT1	Organic land management – improved permanent grassland	£20 per ha
OT2	Organic land management – unimproved permanent grassland	£36 per ha
OT3	Organic land management – rotational land	£132 per ha
OT4	Organic land management – horticulture	£471 per ha
OT5	Organic land management – top fruit	£1,920 per ha
OT6	Organic land management – enclosed rough grazing	£69 per ha
SW1	4m to 6m buffer strip on cultivated land	£451 per ha
SW2	4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland	£235 per ha
SW3	In-field grass strips	£658 per ha
SW4	12m to 24m watercourse or nitrogen sensitive terrestrial habitat buffer strip on cultivated land	£612 per ha
SW5	Enhanced management of maize	£172per ha
SW6	Winter cover crops	£129 per ha
SW11	Riparian management strip	£596 per ha
TE4	Supply and plant tree	£1.72 per tree
WB1	Small wildlife box	£11.95 per box
WB2	Medium wildlife box	£27.91 per box
WB3	Large wildlife box	£38.28 per box
WD3	Woodland edges on arable land	£402 per ha
WD7	Management of successional areas and scrub	£88 per ha
WT1	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches in improved grassland	£311 per ha
WT2	Buffering in-field ponds and ditches on arable land	£594 per ha
WT3	Management of ditches of high environmental value *5 for the management of both sides of the ditch	£44 per 100m *5

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Applies to England

1. Important dates and scheme changes

1.1 Important dates

1.2 Scheme changes for 2024

2. About Mid Tier

2.1 Agreement period

2.2 What grants are available

2.2.1 Management options

2.2.2 Capital items

2.2.3 Organic management and conversion options

2.2.4 Choosing a Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package (WPFWP)

2.3 How applications are assessed

2.4 Choose management options and capital items

3. Who can apply and what land is eligible

3.1 Land that is eligible for Mid Tier

3.2 Land that is not eligible

3.3 Applications from land managers operating multiple farm businesses

3.4 Agreement Land

3.5 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Scheduled Monuments

3.6 European sites

3.7 Protected species

3.8 Organic land

3.9 Land parcels with solar panels

3.10 Integrated pest management (IPM)

3.11 Management control: who can apply

3.11.1 Tenants

3.11.2 Landlords

3.11.3 Partnerships

3.11.4 Licensors

3.11.5 Licensees

3.11.6 Land owned by public bodies

3.11.7 Tenants of land owned by public bodies

3.11.8 Common land and shared grazing

3.12 Land receiving other funding

3.12.1 Relationship with the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)

3.12.2 Applying for CS where someone else is claiming BPS on the same land (‘dual use’)

3.12.3 Lump Sum Exit Scheme

3.12.4 Environmental Stewardship (ES)

3.12.5 Existing CS Mid Tier, Wildlife Offer and Higher Tier agreements

3.12.6 Existing CS capital agreement

3.12.7 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot

3.12.8 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)

3.12.9 Landscape Recovery

3.12.10 Conservation Enhancement Scheme (CES), Wildlife Enhancement Scheme (WES) or Section 15 management agreements

3.12.11 English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) and England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO)

3.12.12 National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)

3.12.13 Scheduled Monuments

3.12.14 Fruit and Vegetables Producer Organisation Aid Scheme

3.12.15 Inheritance Tax or Capital Gains exemptions

3.12.16 National Park Authority and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) grant schemes

3.12.17 Other schemes or grants

3.12.18 Land that is under another obligation such as planning permission or section 106 requirements

4. How to apply for Mid Tier

4.1 Check you’re registered

4.1.1 Registering land parcels

4.1.2 Updating your land information in the Rural Payments service

4.1.3 Authorise an agent

4.2 Choose your agreement type

4.3 Choose management options and capital items

4.3.1 The effect on your application’s score

4.3.2 Identify local priorities

4.3.3 Find details of management options and capital items

4.3.4 Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package (WPFWP)

4.3.5 Addressing water and air quality and reducing flood risk

4.3.6 Priority habitats and species

4.3.7 Organic conversion and management

4.4 Ways to apply

4.4.1 Apply for Mid Tier online

4.4.2 Apply by Assisted Digital

4.5.1 Advice and approval for water and air quality, and natural flood management (NFM) items.

4.5.2 Approval for management options for priority habitats and species

Table 1

Table 2

4.5.3 Advice from a CS Facilitation Fund coordinated group

4.5.4 Approval for management of lowland peat soils

4.6 Get consents and permissions

4.6.1 Consents

Land designated as a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI)

Scheduled Monuments