CIGL3: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on improved grassland (updated for SFI26)

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

£235 per hectare ( ha ) per year – calculate the hectarage by:

measuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m)

multiplying that length by the relevant width (4m to 12m) to give the area in m 2

dividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a grass buffer strip:

with an intact grass sward throughout the year

without tracks, compacted areas or poaching

The purpose of this is to:

protect existing landscape and heritage features

provide habitat for wildlife

prevent pollutants, such as sediment and nutrients, from being carried in surface water runoff, if located next to a watercourse

support an integrated pest management approach, if located close to cropped areas, which can help to reduce costs and improve farm resilience

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s:

an eligible land type (as defined in  section 5.1.1 ‘Eligible land types’  in the SFI26 scheme information)

registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps

declared with a land use code which is compatible with the eligible land cover

You can also do this action on eligible land that’s in a flood risk area. Check the  flood risk map  and read the  guidance on how to use the flood risk map . This can include land which may have flood risk management works carried out on it by a flood risk management authority, such as Internal Drainage Boards .

Eligible land

Eligible land type Eligible land cover Compatible land use code

Temporary grassland Arable land TG01

Improved permanent grassland Permanent grassland PG01

Eligibility of protected land

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

give notice to Natural England to get SSSI consent before the Rural Payments Agency ( 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).

Available area you can enter into this action

Total or part of the available area in a land parcel. It’s your responsibility to check that the area you enter is eligible for this action.

You must do this action on the area entered into your SFI26 agreement. If something happens which means you cannot complete this action on some or all of the area, you must tell the RPA in writing as soon as possible. Read section 12.2 ‘What to do if you cannot comply with your agreement’  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 establish and maintain a grass strip on land entered into this action that’s:

at least 4m to 12m wide (on average in each land parcel) – it can be more than 12m wide, but you’ll only be paid for the 12m width

on the edge of improved grassland

The grass strip must buffer an existing landscape feature, or certain heritage features, such as:

hedgerows

stone walls

woodland

ditches, rivers and streams

upstanding historic and archaeological features, such as earthworks, in-field structures or buildings

You can also locate the grass buffer strip next to:

trackways that channel run-off water directly into a watercourse

fence lines that form links between areas of wildlife habitat

You must make sure the grass strip is in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips.

Once the grass strip is established, you must manage it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You can graze the grass buffer strip with livestock, provided there’s an intact grass sward throughout the year, without tracks, compacted areas or poaching.

Flood risk management authorities, such as Internal Drainage Boards , may carry out flood risk management works on the grass buffer strip if it’s located in a flood risk area. Check the  flood risk map  and read the  guidance on how to use the flood risk map . If this happens, you must repair any damage to the grass buffer strip as soon as reasonably practicable.

You must not do the following on the grass buffer strip once it’s established:

cut it for hay or silage, so it can provide a refuge for farmland wildlife

use it for regular vehicular access, turning or storage (for example, storing bales or machinery)

apply any fertilisers or manures

apply pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken

use pesticides, except for herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat for the control of injurious weeds , invasive non-native species , nettles or bracken

You can maintain an existing grass buffer strip to get paid for this action if it:

meet this action’s requirements

are not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW2 (4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland)

When to do it

You must:

establish the grass buffer strip within the first 12 months of this action’s duration

maintain the same area of grass buffer strip in each subsequent 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 evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as:

field operations at a land parcel level and associated invoices

photographs or other documentation

If it’s not clear that you’ve done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, we may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if we ask for it.

Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Scheme Action or option codes

SFI 2026 actions AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2, WBD7

SFI 2024 actions AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF2, WBD7

SFI 2023 actions IPM1, NUM1, SAM1

CSHT actions from 2025 CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CSW17, CSW18, CSW19, CSW20, CWS1, CWS3

CS options OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3, SW10

ES options No ES revenue options

If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’  in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:

SFI 2026 actions: CHRW2, BND1, BND2 and WBD2

SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2 and WBD2

SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3

CSHT actions: CHRW4

CS options: BE3 (management of hedgerows)

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 and where to establish the grass buffer strip

You can establish the grass buffer strip by either:

sowing a seed mix

using natural regeneration

This action explains:

which landscape features the grass strip is required to buffer (under ‘What to do’)

that the 4m to 12m wide grass strip must be in addition to any regulatory requirements relating to buffer strips

You are required by law to have 2m buffer strips next to hedgerows. This means you need to establish the 4m to 12m wide grass strip at least 2m from the centre of a hedgerow. Read the guidance on  Hedgerow management rules: buffer strips  to understand how these rules apply to you.

Sowing a seed mix

Sowing a seed mix can establish the grass buffer more quickly, which can reduce the risk of soil erosion.

You can choose a seed mix that contains native grass species, such as::

timothy

cocksfoot

crested dog’s tail

red fescue

smooth-stalked meadow grass

It can help the seeds to germinate if they’re sown into a seedbed that’s:

firm, consolidated, fine, level and weed free

moist, which will usually be the case in the autumn – you can sow in the spring, but you may need to increase the sowing rate, depending on weather and soil type

You can either:

broadcast the seeds onto the surface of the seedbed to help germination

shallow-drill the seeds up to a depth of 1 centimetre (cm). Small seeds may struggle to germinate when sown deeper than 1cm

If the soil is dry enough, rolling after you have sown the seeds can:

improve seed-to-soil contact

keep moisture

reduce the risk of slug damage

Your seed supplier can:

help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions

advise you on an overall sowing rate for the seed mix you choose

Using natural regeneration

Using natural regeneration means the grasses in the buffer strip are local to your area. It can take longer to establish the buffer strip, but it may cost less.

To encourage the seeds that are already in the soil to germinate, you can cultivate the soil between spring and late summer.

Maintaining the established grass buffer strip

Once the grass buffer strip is established, this action requires you to maintain it by managing it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

You can cut (unless it’s for hay or silage) or graze the grass buffer strip, as long as this action’s requirements are met.

To provide habitat and a refuge for wildlife, you can:

cut up to half of the width of the buffer strip

stagger cutting, so you do not cut all your buffer strips at the same time

Controlling weeds

You may need to control weeds when they appear. To control weeds like docks, nettles, thistles and common ragwort, you can cut the affected area, providing there’s still an intact grass sward. This action also allows you to use herbicides to weed wipe or spot treat weeds.

Eligible land

Eligible land type Eligible land cover Compatible land use code

Temporary grassland Arable land TG01

Improved permanent grassland Permanent grassland PG01