WBD3 — In-field grass strips

This action’s aim is that there’s an in-field grass strip: - on land at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff - with an intact grass sward throughout the year The purpose of this is to: - reduce the quantity of sediment, nutrients and pesticides transported through surface runoff water - improve water quality - provide habitats for wildlife - support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas

You can do this action on agricultural land located below the moorland line that’s: - identified by you as being at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff – you must keep evidence of this - 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 Eligible land type | Eligible land cover | Compatible land use code | Arable land used to grow crops | Arable land | Land use codes for arable crops or leguminous and nitrogen-fixing crops | Temporary grassland | Arable land | TG01 | Arable land lying fallow | Arable land | FA01 |

You must establish and maintain an in-field grass strip which has: - an intact grass sward - no evidence of damage from vehicle or stock access routes During late summer after the bird breeding season, you must cut the entire strip to encourage a dense sward with a variety of grasses to grow. You must not: - apply 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 - allow livestock to access the strip You can maintain an existing in-field grass strip to get paid for this action if it: - meets this action’s requirements - is not already being paid for under another environmental land management scheme option, such as CS option SW3 (in-field grass strips)

You must: - establish the in-field grass strip within 12 months of this action’s start date - maintain the in-field grass strip throughout each subsequent year of this action’s duration

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.

You must keep written evidence that land entered into this action is at risk of soil erosion or surface runoff. You can use a soil management plan you’ve already produced for SFI24 action CSAM1 or SFI23 action SAM1 to identify this. You must also 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 and 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.