CHS2: Take historic and archaeological features out of cultivation
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

£613 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

The aim is to change land use from arable or permanent cropping to permanent undisturbed grassland to prevent cultivation damaging historic and archaeological features. Throughout the year, there should be a continuous grass or flower mixture growing over the historic and archaeological feature and minimal scrub and bracken growth.

The purpose of this is to:
- prevent the damage of below ground or above ground historic and archaeological features
- reduce diffuse pollution
- reduce soil erosion
- maintain landscape character
- improve carbon storage
Where you can do this action

You can do this action on eligible land that:
- is identified as containing an historic or archaeological feature on your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER)
- contains a historic or archaeological feature identified by you and agreed with a Natural England adviser
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 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:
- establish a grass/flower mixture by shallow minimum till (‘min till’) cultivation or re-seed temporary grassland by slot seeding – agree a method with your Natural England adviser
- once the mix is established, maintain it in a way that can reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
You must not:
- plough on earthworks when establishing grass or flower mixtures
- harrow or roll
- supplementary feed on or within 6m of the historic or archaeological feature
- allow scrub or bracken growth to establish on the area of this action
- carry out drainage works, including modifying existing drainage, without written permission from Natural England
- locate vehicle or stock access routes within around 6m of the historic or archaeological feature (existing surfaced tracks can be used)
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 the parcel level
- associated invoices
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 Natural England adviser, Forestry Commission woodland officer, Historic England adviser or local authority adviser if you have other historic or archaeological features on your agreement land
- obtain any necessary consents from the Environment Agency, Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) or Internal Drainage Board (IDB) before starting any work
- 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 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).

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.

Managing historic and archaeological features on your land

The best way to manage most archaeological features is for them to:
- be under permanent grass
- have no scrub or tree cover
- avoid doing anything that could cause erosion or damage
Maintain a continuous grass sward over the features.

If you re-seed temporary grassland by slot seeding, make sure you do not damage the existing sward.

Changing land back to permanent undisturbed grassland

When land is reverted correctly, it can:
- provide grazing for livestock
- reduce diffuse water pollution
- reduce soil erosion
- store carbon more successfully
You can enhance the character of the landscape by reverting land to mirror the field patten of the local area.

You’ll only achieve successful carbon storage gains if you change land back to permanent grassland without moving production to another location.