Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics (updated for SFI26)

What you must do

You must manage the area entered into this action in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim, including: managing the scrub and non-woody grassy vegetation by patchy cutting or light cattle grazing to maintain the mosaic managing the scrub so there’s dense and scattered scrub on between 10% and 60% of the area, as well as open areas managing the non-woody vegetation in a way that allows for scrub regeneration and produces a varied sward leaving any standing and fallen deadwood in place, if it’s safe to do so leaving any mature and veteran trees in place, if it’s safe to do so You must not: graze or cut the area in a way that means this action’s aim cannot reasonably be achieved graze the area with sheep, because their grazing habits would not achieve this action’s aim plough, cultivate or re-seed carry out mechanical activities, such as cutting, in a way that may disturb breeding birds or damage nests, as birds, nests and eggs are protected by law apply fertilisers, manures or lime apply pesticides, except for herbicides, to weed wipe or spot treat to control injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles or bracken release gamebirds carry out supplementary feeding of grazing livestock or game birds, except for providing non-energy mineral blocks carry out drainage works or change existing drainage, without written permission before work starts You can maintain an existing area of scrub and open habitat mosaics 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 Countryside Stewardship option WD7 (management of successional areas and scrub)

When to do it

You must do this action each year of its 3-year duration.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you’ve done to complete this action, such as: stocking records to show grazing activity at a land parcel level 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