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WD9: Livestock exclusion supplement - scrub and successional areas

Natural England

March 13
16:53 2023

How much will be paid

74 per hectare (ha).

Where to use this supplement

It is available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier and can be used on whole or part parcels on land:

  • containing mostly native species of trees and scrubs

when combined with:

  • WD7 - Management of successional areas and scrub
  • WD8 - Creation of successional areas and scrub

Where this supplement cannot be used

  • For woodlands with an existing scheme to exclude livestock

How this supplement will benefit the environment

It helps scrub to develop through natural regeneration. This will attract more birds and invertebrates as well as reducing soil erosion and floods in scrub areas.

Aims

If youre selected for a site visit, we will check that delivery of the aims is being met and the prohibited activities have not been carried out. This will ensure the environmental benefits are being delivered.

There will be no livestock grazing at any time of year. This will allow more trees and scrub to grow due to natural regeneration.

Prohibited activities

To achieve the aims and deliver the environmental benefits, do not carry out any of the following activities.

  • None

On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you have not carried out any prohibited activities.

To assist you in achieving the aims and deliver the environmental benefits for this option, we recommend that you use best practice.

Keeping records

Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the supplement have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the supplement. This will include any steps youve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. Its your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

  • Stock records to show grazing activity on parcels

Additional guidance and advice

The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.

Once scrub has established, you can usually re-introduce grazing.

This supplement may not be needed for the full duration of the agreement.

Biodiversity

This supplement has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme.?Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holdings situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.?

Further information

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier and Higher Tier including how to apply.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 13 March 2023 +show all updates
  1. The reference to 'WD8 - Creation of successional areas and scrub' has been updated in the 'Where to use this supplement' and 'Related Mid Tier options' sections to remove the reference to Higher Tier only

  2. New payment rate from 1 January 2022.

  3. Option updated for agreements starting 1 January 2022

  4. Page refreshed and updated.

  5. Updated for 2017 applications.

  6. Information updated for applications in 2016.

  7. First published.

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