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

What you must 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

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.

SFI26 actions v2.0, updated 7 July 2026 — verified 1 Aug 2026. Open official guidance