CWS11: 3-zone rides supplement
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-10)

What you must do to get paid for this CSHT action and advice on how to do it.

This action is part of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). You must read the CSHT guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht) before you apply.

Duration

10 years

How much you’ll be paid

£197 per hectare (ha) per year for the area of the ride

Action’s aim

The aim of this supplemental action is to manage 3-zone rides in woodlands.

A ride is a linear open space in a woodland. In most woodlands, rides are access paths or tracks.

A 3-zone ride consists of:
- a central grass area which is cut annually and consists mostly of short grass and compact flowering plants
- an herbaceous zone on either side that’s dominated by medium to tall grasses and flowering plants – the herbaceous zone may include scrub
- a shrub zone on either side – this should be a transition zone between the trees and the open area
The purpose is to create and manage a diverse ride structure to:
- deliver benefits for biodiversity
- provide habitat corridors for wildlife
Where you can do this action

You can only use this supplemental action in combination with Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier base action CWD2: woodland improvement action (https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd2-woodland-improvement).

You can only do this action if you have a Woodland Management Plan agreed with Forestry Commission.

Your Forestry Commission woodland officer adviser will agree with you what other supplemental actions may be needed to meet the intended environmental outcomes. This could include:
- CSP6: Cattle grazing supplement (non-moorland)
- CSP7: Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly supplement
- CSP9: Support for threatened species
- CWS2: Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) supplement
- CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) supplement
- CWS9: Manage woodlands for flood and drought mitigation supplement
You cannot do this supplemental action on the same land as CWS10: Manage 2-zone rides.

Eligible land

Same as base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same or less than the base action.

Rotational or static action

Same as base action.

What to do

Your Forestry Commission woodland officer will assess your land. They’ll work with you to adapt and agree the activities you must do to achieve this action’s aim. All mandatory activities will be set out in your agreement document.

To get paid for this action, you must:
- manage rides identified in your agreement
- maintain 3-zones along the ride that’s made up of the grass layer, the herbaceous layer and the shrub layer with occasional trees – the ride’s structure can include pinch points, irregular edges and small glades where rides intersect
When to do it

You must do this action each year of its duration.

Evidence to keep

You must keep evidence to show what you have done to complete this action. If it’s not clear that you have done this action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve its aim, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) may ask for this evidence. You must supply the evidence if they ask for it.

Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

To apply for this action, you’ll need:
- a Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/create-a-woodland-management-plan)
- Scheduled Monument Consent (https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/consents/smc/) from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- consent from Natural England (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest#get-consent-to-carry-out-operations-on-your-land) for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
You may need to:
- get advice from your Forestry Commission woodland officer if you have other archaeological or historic features on your agreement land
- apply for a felling licence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-felling-licence-when-you-need-to-apply) from the Forestry Commission to carry out some activities in this action
- get a wildlife licence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wildlife-licences) from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
All archaeological and historic features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).

If you’re a tenant, it’s your responsibility to check whether your tenancy agreement allows you to complete what’s required in the actions you choose. You may need your landlord’s consent.

Capital grants to support this action

You can apply for capital items (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/capital-items-guidance-for-applicants-and-agreement-holders) to help you achieve the action’s aims. Your Forestry Commission woodland officer will discuss eligible capital items with you.

Advice to help you do this action

The following optional advice may help you to do this action. Your agreement document will set out all the activities you must do.

You will agree with your Forestry Commission woodland officer what management activities you will carry out using this supplement. It will include the following activities.

Manage the central vegetation

After the annual cut of the central vegetation area, you may need to:
- remove cuttings, where possible
- scatter cuttings in mounds to provide habitats for invertebrates
Manage the herbaceous zone

Cut the herbaceous zone:
- on a 3 to 5-year cycle
- on alternate sides to maintain a mixed layer with varying heights
- between August and March to minimise disturbance to wildlife
Pile up any woody material at the woodland edge unless it would damage ancient woodland plants.

Manage the shrub zone

Maintain the shrub zone on either side of the herbaceous zone by cutting on an 8-to-10-year cycle.

Read the Forestry Commission bulletin 123: Managing rides, roadsides and edge habitats in lowland forests (https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2000/04/fcbu123.pdf) for more information.