Manage ditches

Where it applies

Boundary

A boundary action — it's paid on the parcel's boundary features, not its area.

Eligibility conditions

• Man-made ditch forming a parcel boundary below the moorland line, with vegetated banks, regularly holding water
• SDA ditches, culverts, natural watercourses, ponds and grips are ineligible
• Management control of both sides of the entire ditch length for the 3-year duration
• SSSI land is ineligible for this action

What you'll do

Manage ditches that form a parcel boundary (below the moorland line) for water and wildlife. Cut bank-top vegetation in rotation — no more than half a ditch's length in any year — and do in-channel work at most once over the 3 years, during autumn, winter or early spring. A boundary action — it doesn't double-fund area actions on the same parcel.

Evidence to keep

• Ditch management records at parcel level, with invoices
• Dated photos of the rotational bank-top cutting
• A record of any in-channel work and when it was done

When

• Sep–Mar: Manage the ditch in autumn, winter or early spring (~Sep–late Mar)

Combining with other actions

Can share its area with every other action except:

• SFI 2026: BND1
• SFI 2024: BND1, WBD2