PA7: Species management plan
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-17)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the species management plan item.

You need to apply for a capital grants plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-capital-grants-plan) and get an agreement before you complete your plan.

How much you’ll be paid

£204.79 per type of species per approved plan to a maximum of £1023.95.

How this item benefits the environment

The control of invasive non-native species protects rare or declining species such as red squirrels and water voles.

The management of invasive non-native plant species such as Japanese knotweed or Himalayan balsam will allow native plants to reclaim the affected habitat.

Where you can use this item

This item is available as a stand-alone agreement to aid a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier application to support species control and management.

You can create a plan template to manage one or more of the following species:

American mink (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/american-mink-species-management-plan-pa7-template)

deer, both native and non-native (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/deer-species-management-plan-pa7-template) (counted as one type of species)

edible dormouse (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/edible-dormouse-species-management-plan-pa7-template)

grey squirrel (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grey-squirrel-species-management-plan-pa7-template)

invasive non-native plant species (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/invasive-non-native-plant-species-management-plan-pa7-template) (counted as one type of species)

If your agreement includes any works that may require the consent of the Forestry Commission, you should speak to your Forestry Commission adviser or local woodland officer in advance of these activities taking place.

You cannot use this item if you have an existing plan detailing the management of the species.

What you must do to use this item

You must identify the species that needs managing on your land.

You must complete a species management plan template to create a management plan for each species that needs controlling. You may use independent specialist advice if needed.

The plan should include the:

impact of the species on your land

areas and habitats you intend to undertake control on

methods and resources you intend to use

You must submit your completed template plan to either the Forestry Commission or Natural England.

The Forestry Commission will approve plan templates for:

deer

edible dormouse

grey squirrel

Natural England will approve plan templates for American mink.

For invasive non-native plant species, you should get your plan template approved by:

your local Forestry Commission operational delivery team hub (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission/about/access-and-opening#operational-delivery-team) if you’ll undertake invasive plant control in woodlands

Natural England for all other habitat types and mixed applications (that include both woodlands and other habitats)

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

a copy of the approved species management plan template for each species you intend to undertake control on

a map of where you’ll manage the species

You should keep and provide on request a receipted invoice or bank statement only if you’re using specialist advice.

If you’re managing invasive non-native plant species, you must also keep photographic evidence of each occurrence of an invasive plant on a land parcel.

You may want to record any activities you undertake as part of your agreement on a national database, such as INNSMapper (https://innsmapper.org/home), iRecord (https://irecord.org.uk/) or Mink MApp (https://minkmapp.uk/) if American mink. These free applications can be used to record the presence of invasive species and confirm their identification.

Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agreement-holders-guide-capital-grants-higher-tier-capital-grants-and-protection-and-infrastructure-grants-2025) for more information.

Other items, actions and supplements you can use with this item

Capital items

You can use this item with:

FG9: Deer fencing (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/deer-fencing-fg9)

FG10: Temporary deer fencing (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/temporary-deer-fencing-fg10)

FG11: Deer exclosure plot (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/deer-exclosure-plot-fg11)

FG16: Deer pedestrian gate (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/fg16-deer-pedestrian-gate)

FG17: Deer vehicle gate (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/fg17-deer-vehicle-gate)

FY1: Deer high seat (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/deer-high-seat-fy1)

FY3: Squirrel traps and maintenance (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/fy3-squirrel-traps-and-maintenance)

SM1: Training to control and manage deer (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-new-capital-items#sm1-training-to-control-and-manage-deer)

SM4: Traps for American mink (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-new-capital-items#sm4-traps-for-american-mink)

SM5: Traps for edible dormouse (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-new-capital-items#sm5-traps-for-edible-dormouse)

Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier

You can use with the following actions and supplements:

CSP12: Rhododendron control and management supplement (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#csp12-rhododendron-control-and-management-supplement)

CSP13: Invasive plant species control and management (lower rate) (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#csp13-invasive-plant-species-control-and-management-lower-rate)

CSP14: Invasive plant species control and management (intermediate rate) (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#csp14-invasive-plant-species-control-and-management-intermediate-rate)

CSP15: Invasive plant species control and management (upper rate) (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#csp15-invasive-plant-species-control-and-management-upper-rate)

CSP20: Edible dormouse control and management (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#csp20-edible-dormouse-control-and-management)

CSP21: American mink control and management (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#csp21-american-mink-control-and-management)

CSP3: Bracken control supplement (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#csp3-bracken-control-supplement)

CWS1: Deer control and management (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#cws1-deer-control-and-management)

CWS3: Grey squirrel control and management (/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-get-ready-to-apply/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-actions#cws3-grey-squirrel-control-and-management)

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

If you have a species management plan for deer, edible dormouse or grey squirrel, you may wish to complete a habitat impact assessment in years 1, 5 and 10 of your species management plan agreement.