CHS5: Manage historic and archaeological features on grassland
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

5 years

How much you’ll be paid

£55 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that you maintain a well-managed, intact grass sward or area of vegetation throughout the year covering the historic or archaeological feature.

The purpose of this is to:
- cover and protect archaeological features
- have minimal bare ground, scrub, bracken or pernicious weeds on and around the historical or archaeological feature
- help maintain and conserve landscape character
Where you can do this action

You can do this action on eligible land that’s either:
- identified as containing a historic or archaeological feature on your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER)
- contains an historic or archaeological feature identified by you, and agreed with a Natural England adviser
You cannot do this action on land parcels of more than 15ha above the moorland line.

Eligible land

You can do this action on land that’s:
- an eligible land type
- registered with an eligible land cover on your digital maps
- declared with a land use code (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/land-use-codes-rural-payments) which is compatible with the eligible land cover
Available area you can enter into this action

Total or part of the available area in the land parcel.

Rotational or static action

This action is static. This means you must do it on the same location each year of the action’s duration.

What to do

Your Natural England adviser or Historic England adviser 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:
- position vehicle or stock access routes at least 6m away from the historic or archaeological feature
- maintain a continuous grass sward or vegetation cover over historic and archaeological features with minimal bare batches and erosion (as agreed with your Natural England adviser)
- have no more than 5% cover of scrub, bracken or pernicious weeds on the historic or archaeological feature
You must not:
- plough, cultivate or re-seed
- harrow or roll
- supplementary feed within 6m of the historic or archaeological feature
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, including:
- field operations at a land parcel level
- associated invoices
- other documentation
Other actions or options you can do on the same area as this action

You can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.

Some actions or options can only be done on the same area if they’re done at a different time of year to this action.

You can do the following actions or options on the eligible boundaries of a land parcel entered into this action:
- CSHT actions: CWT3, CHRW4
- SFI 2024 actions: CHRW1, CHRW2, CHRW3, BND1, BND2, WBD10
- SFI 2023 actions: HRW1, HRW2, HRW3
- CS option BE3 (management of hedgerows)
Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

To apply for this action, you’ll need consent from Natural England for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest#get-consent-to-carry-out-operations-on-your-land).

You may need to:
- agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviser
- get Scheduled Monument Consent (https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/consents/smc/) from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- get advice from your Historic England, Natural England adviser or local authority if you have other historic or archaeological features on your agreement land
- get a wildlife licence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wildlife-licences) from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
- 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
All historic and archaeological features (including scheduled monuments) are identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER).

You can manage any historic and archaeological features you identify that are not listed on your HEFER under this action (if agreed with your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer).

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

If you need to complete an implementation plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for capital grants plans funding (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/capital-items-guidance-for-applicants-and-agreement-holders#capital-grants-plans).

You can also 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 Natural England adviser 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.

Establishing an intact grass sward

The grass sward will usually have:

very little bare soil

no developing bracken or scrub

no poaching or erosion

no burrowing animals

no visible farm tracks

Managing the grass sward

Maintain a continuous grass sward or vegetation cover so bare patches and erosion, scrub, bracken and pernicious weeds are kept to a minimum. Avoid over-grazing as it can lead to erosion and bare patches. Be careful not to encourage under grazing as this can lead to scrub growth.

Installing or maintaining drainage systems can damage historic and archaeological features. To avoid damage, install access points outside the feature so you can maintain drains without having to excavate.

Do not carry out supplementary feeding of livestock on historic and archaeological features. If features such as ridge and furrow cover the whole parcel, you may not be able to avoid this. Your Natural England adviser can help you identify suitable places for supplementary feeding.