CWT1: Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on improved grassland

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

£311 per hectare ( ha ) per year

Calculate the hectarage by:

measuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m) along the edge of the feature being protected

multiplying that length by the relevant width (10m to 20m) 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 wide grass buffer strip around a pond or ditch that:

has an intact grass sward throughout the year, without tracks and compacted areas

is left to develop a mix of tussocky grasses, flowering plants and low scrub

has minimal poaching by livestock

The purpose of this is to:

protect ponds or ditches from nutrient leaching and sediment runoff

help improve water quality

provide a habitat for wildlife

Where you can do this action

You can do this action on eligible land that’s located below the moorland line and adjacent to either:

a pond

a ditch that’s under: CWT3: Manage ditches of high environmental value in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

You cannot do this action:

on historic or archaeological features

around ponds associated with industrial features such as effluent ponds, balancing ponds or small water supply reservoirs

Eligible land

You can do this action on land that’s:

an eligible land type

registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps

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

Eligible land type Eligible land cover Compatible land use code

Temporary grassland Arable land TG01

Improved permanent grassland Permanent grassland PG01

Available area you can enter into this action

Total or part of the available area in the land parcel.

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

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:

establish or maintain a 10m to 20m wide grass buffer strip adjacent to the pond or ditch

allow tussocky grass and low scrub to develop

only allow livestock to lightly poach an area agreed with your Natural England adviser

You must not:

allow scrub to develop on more than an agreed area of the pond or ditch margin – the southern side of the pond or ditch must remain largely open

apply fertilisers or manures

apply pesticides – you may be able to use herbicides to spot-treat or weed-wipe for the control of injurious weeds, invasive non-native plant species, nettles or other plants if this has been agreed with your Natural England adviser

cut except to control the spread of woody growth – you can only cut between September and February

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

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.

Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action.

Scheme Action or option code

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

SFI 2023 actions SAM1, IPM1, NUM1

CSHT actions CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CWS1, CWS3, CSP21, CSP20, CSW15, CSW16, CPAC1, CSW17, CSW19, CSW18, CSW20, CAGF1, CAGF3, CAGF2, CAGF4

CS options OR1, OT1, SW15, SW16

ES options N/A

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

CSHT actions: CWT3, CHRW4

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

SFI  2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3

CS  option BE3 (management of hedgerows)

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.

Eligible land

You can do this action on land that’s:

an eligible land type

registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps

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

Eligible land type Eligible land cover Compatible land use code

Temporary grassland Arable land TG01

Improved permanent grassland Permanent grassland PG01