CSP7: Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly supplement

This action is part of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier ( CSHT ). You must read the CSHT guidance before you apply.

Duration

5 years

How much you’ll be paid

£279 per hectare ( ha ) per year

Action’s aim

The aim of this supplemental action is to introduce conservation grazing to the Isles of Scilly. This is on land where cattle do not currently graze.

The purpose is to help protect the environment by:

introducing a more varied sward structure that’ll increase wildlife diversity

helping manage scrub, bracken and coarse vegetation

making sure animals graze wet areas and difficult sites such as steep slopes

Where you can do this action

You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land located on the Isles of Scilly. It must be used in combination with a CSHT land management action  where cattle grazing will help achieve the supplement’s aims, as agreed with your Natural England adviser.

Your Natural England adviser will agree with you what other supplemental actions may be needed to meet the intended environmental outcomes. This could include:

CCT6: Coastal vegetation management supplement

CGS16: Rush control supplement

CGS23: Haymaking supplement

CGS24: Haymaking supplement (late cut)

CSP1: Difficult site supplement

CSP2: Rewetting supplement

CSP3: Bracken control supplement

CSP5: Shepherding supplement (non-moorland)

CSP11: Manage scrapes and gutters supplement

CSP12: Rhododendron control and management supplement

CSP16: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (50-80%)

CSP17: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)

CSP18: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%)

CSP19: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)

CSP9: Support for threatened species

CSW26: Enhanced floodplain storage supplement

CUP18: Manage features for wildfire management (fire and fuel breaks) supplement

CWS10: 2-zone rides supplement

CWS11: 3-zone rides supplement

CWS2: Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites ( PAWS ) supplement

CWS5: Improve woodland resilience supplement

CWS7: Manage historic features in woodlands supplement

CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands ( ASNW ) supplement

CWS9: Manage woodlands for flood and drought mitigation supplement

Eligible land

Same as base action.

Available area you can enter into this supplement

Same or less than the base action.

Rotational or static action

Same as base action.

What to do

Your Natural England adviser will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.

To get paid for this action, you must:

graze cattle on the land with the supplement

follow a stocking calendar agreed with your Natural England adviser

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency ( RPA ) may ask for this evidence.

You must supply the evidence if they ask for it, including:

field operations at a land parcel level

associated invoices

photographs

monthly stock records for numbers of animals grazing

Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

To apply for this action, you’ll need:

Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments

consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest ( SSSI )

You may need to:

agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviser

get advice from your Natural England adviser if you have other historic or archaeological features on your agreement land

get a wildlife licence from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat

All historic and archaeological features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record ( HEFER ).

If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.

Capital grants to support this action

If you need to complete an implementation plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for capital grants plans funding .

You can also apply for capital items to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Natural England adviser will discuss eligible capital items with you.

Advice to help you do this action

The following optional advice may help you to do this action. Your agreement document will set out all the activities you must do.

This supplement uses cattle to graze because they:

create a varied sward structure, with more niches for invertebrates and taller patches that can flower and set seed

expose bare ground and tread seed into gaps large enough to allow establishment

eat fibrous vegetation in summer and autumn, which may have accumulated when swards are rested or grazed lightly in spring

eat species less preferred by sheep, such as tall scrub, tor grass, mat grass and purple moor grass

tread down bracken and other dominant species

graze very wet areas where sheep are reluctant to venture

Avoid using this supplement where it will damage historic features.

Cattle breeds you can use

Many cattle breeds or crossbreeds may be capable of meeting the requirements of this supplement.

To manage fibrous vegetation, you will need to graze with cattle with low nutritional requirements, such as dry suckler cows.

If the base action supports breeding birds, graze with mature, placid cattle that reduce trampling.

Follow an appropriate cattle management system to minimise poaching or damaging soil structure, for example:

delay turning out cattle

bring forward housing dates

move cattle to drier fields

only supplementary feed with minerals

Eligible land

Same as base action.