Comprehensive Guide to SFI Options for Woodlands, Trees, Hedgerows, and Agroforestry

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme offers a variety of options to support landowners and farmers in adopting sustainable land management practices. By implementing SFI actions, landowners can enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, and integrate trees and hedgerows into their landscapes. This article provides an in-depth look at all the relevant SFI options for woodlands, trees, hedgerows, and agroforestry, along with a detailed action plan for landowners interested in applying for these options.

Overview of SFI Options for Woodlands, Trees, Hedgerows, and Agroforestry

The SFI scheme includes numerous options that cater to the unique needs of woodlands, trees, hedgerows, and agroforestry systems. Below are the specific SFI options available, including eligibility criteria, payment rates, and practical advice on how to implement these options effectively.

SFI Hedgerow Management Options

1. CHRW1: Assess and Record Hedgerow Condition
   This option provides payments for assessing and recording the condition of hedgerows, helping landowners implement targeted management strategies.
   • Payment Rate: £5 per 100 metres (for one side of the hedgerow).
   • What It Involves: Regular assessments to record key attributes such as gaps, species diversity, and overall structure. This helps inform management plans and long-term maintenance strategies.
2. CHRW2: Manage Hedgerows
   Supports traditional hedgerow management practices, such as trimming, shaping, and maintaining a variety of hedgerow heights and widths to provide diverse habitats for wildlife.
   • Payment Rate: £13 per 100 metres (for one side of the hedgerow).
   • What It Involves: Rotational cutting, ensuring that cutting is done outside the bird nesting season, and maintaining structural diversity to support different species.
3. CHRW3: Maintain or Establish Hedgerow Trees
   Encourages the planting of new hedgerow trees or the maintenance of existing ones to enhance landscape character and improve connectivity for wildlife.
   • Payment Rate: £10 per 100 metres (for both sides of the hedgerow).
   • What It Involves: Planting native tree species, protecting young trees, and promoting healthy growth through routine maintenance.

SFI Woodland and Tree Management Options

1. BFS4: Protect In-Field Trees on Arable Land
   Aimed at protecting mature trees located within arable fields, ensuring their long-term health and preventing damage from agricultural activities.
   • Payment Rate: £553 per hectare per year.
   • What It Involves: Establishing a naturally regenerated grass buffer around the in-field tree, preventing ploughing or the application of fertilisers within this buffer, and ensuring the tree is protected from livestock damage.
2. BFS5: Protect In-Field Trees on Intensive Grassland
   Designed to protect trees located in intensively managed grassland, helping preserve tree health and prevent soil compaction around the root zone.
   • Payment Rate: £295 per hectare per year.
   • What It Involves: Creating a buffer around the tree to prevent damage from grazing and farm machinery, and maintaining the buffer area in a way that supports the health and longevity of the tree.
3. AHW12: Manage Woodland Edges on Arable Land
   Supports the creation and maintenance of woodland edge habitats adjacent to arable land, providing valuable transition zones for wildlife.
   • Payment Rate: £428 per hectare per year (up to 6m wide).
   • What It Involves: Establishing an uncultivated strip of scrub and grass along the woodland edge, maintaining the strip to support a diverse mix of vegetation heights, and preventing cultivation or application of fertilisers and pesticides.

SFI Agroforestry Options

1. AGF1: Maintain Very Low Density In-Field Agroforestry on Less Sensitive Land
   Supports the maintenance of low-density agroforestry systems, where trees are integrated with arable or horticultural crops, grassland, or other environmental land management actions.
   • Payment Rate: £248 per hectare per year.
   • What It Involves: Maintaining an average of 30-50 trees per hectare, ensuring tree health through pruning and weed management, and protecting trees from livestock and pests.
2. AGF2: Maintain Low Density In-Field Agroforestry on Less Sensitive Land
   Supports higher-density agroforestry systems, promoting soil health, providing shade for livestock, and reducing the risk of soil erosion and water runoff.
   • Payment Rate: £385 per hectare per year.
   • What It Involves: Maintaining an average of 51-130 trees per hectare, managing grazing patterns to prevent damage to young trees, and maintaining a balance between crop or livestock production and tree health.

Action Plan for Landowners Applying for SFI

Step 1: Assess Your Land and Set Objectives

• Conduct a Site Assessment: Identify areas suitable for hedgerow planting, woodland edge management, or integrating agroforestry systems.
• Define Your Goals: Determine whether your primary objectives are enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health, or integrating trees into your agricultural operations.

Step 2: Review SFI Options and Select Relevant Actions

• Match SFI Options to Your Objectives: Choose options that align with your farm’s needs, such as hedgerow management for biodiversity or tree protection on arable land.
• Understand Payment Rates and Requirements: Familiarise yourself with the payment rates and management requirements for each option.

Step 3: Create a Comprehensive Management Plan

• Develop a Detailed Plan: Include maps, species to be planted, and descriptions of proposed actions. Highlight how each SFI option will benefit your land and contribute to the scheme’s environmental goals.
• Consult with Local Experts: Engage with local Woodland Creation Officers or SFI advisers to refine your plan.

Step 4: Submit Your SFI Application

• Use the Rural Payments Agency’s Online System: Complete your application through the online portal, attaching your management plan and any required supporting documents.
• Review and Submit: Double-check all sections for completeness and accuracy before submitting your application.

Step 5: Implement Approved Actions

• Begin Implementation: Once your application is approved, carry out the actions as specified in your management plan.
• Maintain Compliance and Report Annually: Submit annual reports to demonstrate compliance with SFI standards and the success of your actions.

Maximising Financial Support by Combining SFI with Other Schemes

• Combine SFI with Countryside Stewardship or EWCO: Explore opportunities to combine SFI with other schemes for additional financial support. For example, use Countryside Stewardship to fund tree planting and SFI to support hedgerow management.
• Design Integrated Management Plans: Create integrated plans that leverage multiple funding sources to achieve broader environmental benefits.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive offers landowners a powerful tool for integrating sustainable practices into their land management. By understanding the available options and following a structured application process, landowners can secure financial support and enhance the environmental and economic resilience of their land. With careful planning and execution, SFI can be a cornerstone of successful farm and woodland management.

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