Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics

Where it applies

Arable, Horticultural, Temporary grassland, Permanent grassland, Permanent crops, Scrub

Eligibility conditions

• Below the moorland line, with existing scrub cover on at least 10% of the area
• Not suitable for peatland or land used by breeding waders
• SSSI land is ineligible for this action
• Areas with historic or archaeological features are ineligible

What you'll do

Keep an existing scrub-and-open-ground mosaic in good shape — patchy cutting or light cattle grazing to hold dense and scattered scrub at 10–60% of the area with open spaces between.

Evidence to keep

• Stocking records at parcel level (if grazed)
• Field operation records, with invoices
• Dated photos showing the maintained mosaic

Supplements you can add

• SPM5 — Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (>80%) (£11 per hectare, per year)

Combining with other actions

Actions that can be paid on the same area:

• SFI 2024: CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1
• SFI 2023: IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
• CS Higher Tier: CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3