BND1: Maintain dry stone walls

This is a Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 ( SFI26 ) action. Read the SFI26 scheme information to understand what you’re required to do under an SFI26 agreement and how to apply.

Select ‘See all updates’ at the start of this page to find out how this action has changed for SFI26 compared with SFI24 .

For SFI24 actions, read the  SFI24 agreement holder’s information .

Duration

3 years

How much you’ll be paid

£27 per 100 metres (m) for both sides

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are dry stone walls maintained in good condition.

The purpose of this is to:

help manage livestock

provide habitats for lichens, mosses, ferns and wildlife

maintain landscape and historic features

Where you can do this action

An eligible dry stone wall for this action must be:

a vertical structure that’s built of natural stone

of traditional dry stone wall construction, which can include mortar if it’s part of the traditional stone walling method

at least 20m long, measured between 2 end points – read the ‘advice to help you do this action’ to find out how to measure this

in good condition

To be in good condition, the dry stone wall must be both:

continuous – which means there are no gaps along its entire length, apart from structural wall features such as stiles, stone gate posts and sheep creeps

complete – which means the wall is at a height in keeping with local style, with top stones in place if they’re part of the local style

Check you have management control of your dry stone walls

You must have management control of both sides of the entire length of the eligible dry stone wall you enter into this action for its 3-year duration.

If you only have management control of one side of the dry stone wall, you must not enter it into this action.

You will have management control of both sides of a wall that’s next to a road, or borders a neighbour’s land, if you meet both of following conditions:

you have a legal right or obligation to maintain the wall

you can meet this action’s requirements

Check the length you enter into this action

It’s your responsibility to check that the length (in metres) you enter in your SFI application:

is eligible for this action

corresponds with what’s on the ground for the relevant land parcel – make sure you measure your hedgerows and enter an accurate length

If you enter a length which is ineligible or exceeds what’s on the ground, the Rural Payments Agency ( RPA ) will have to remove it from your SFI26 agreement. You may also have to repay monies already received.

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the RPA can offer you an SFI26 agreement

have received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (read section 10.1 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details)

Historic and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.3 ’Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.

What to do

You must maintain dry stone walls entered into this action in good condition. To do this, you must:

visually check their condition and identify any sections that need to be repaired

carry out any necessary repairs

keep a record (written or photographic) of any need for repairs you identify, and the repair work you do – including the date you identify the need and when the work was done

When you carry out any necessary repairs, you must:

use materials in keeping with the local style and characteristic

retain any existing features such as top stones, sheep creeps, stiles and stone gate posts

When to do it

You must:

check the condition of the walls at least once during each year of this action’s 3-year duration

carry out any necessary repairs within 12 months of identifying the need, or by this action’s end date if you identify the need for repairs during the final year of this action’s duration

How to do it

It’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:

follow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’

do the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim

You may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

Evidence to keep

You must keep the required written or photographic record and supply this evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do with this action

You can do the following actions or options in land parcels with eligible boundaries entered into this action.

Scheme Action or option codes

SFI 2026 actions All SFI 2026 actions except BND2, CHRW2 and WBD2

SFI 2024 actions All SFI 2024 actions except BND1, BND2, CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, and WBD2

SFI 2023 actions All SFI 2023 actions except HRW1, HRW2 and HRW3

CSHT actions from 2025  All CSHT actions except CHRW4

CS options All CS management options except BE3 (management of hedgerows)

ES options All ES revenue options except boundary options

Advice to help you do this action

The following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.

How to measure your dry stone wall

For the purposes of measuring the length of your dry stone wall between 2 end points, an end point can include:

a point of connection with another wall, bank, hedgerow or other features (such as a fence, ditch, road or building)

where the feature changes management control or ownership

How to visually check the condition of your dry stone walls

This action requires you to visually check the condition of your dry stone walls and identify any sections that need to be repaired.

When you visually check the condition of your walls, factors which could mean your walls need to be repaired include:

fallen stones

slumping

overgrown vegetation

damage by livestock

damage by machinery

How to carry out necessary repairs

Before you carry out any necessary repairs on your dry stone wall, check for signs of nesting birds.  Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law , so if you see signs of nesting birds, delay work until the birds fledge.

When you carry out any necessary repairs on your wall, try to:

use original stone, where it’s available – if the original stone is not reusable, you can source replacement stone that’s in keeping with the local style and characteristic (which has not been removed from other walls or historic or archaeological features)

if stones have lichen growth, use them with the growth facing outwards

transport materials when conditions are dry – this will help to avoid damaging the ground

remove leftover materials from the site after you have carried out the work

restore the ground where you have carried out the work

Eligibility of protected land

Sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Eligible – you must:

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the RPA can offer you an SFI26 agreement

have received SSSI consent from Natural England before you do this action (read section 10.1 ‘SSSI consent’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details)

Historic and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.3 ’Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).