CUP15: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 30% GLU)
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

£7 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

The aim of this supplemental action is that at least 30% of the grazing livestock units (GLU) on moorland are cattle or ponies, or a combination of both.

The purpose of this is to:
- create a more varied sward structure
- control scrub, bracken and coarse vegetation
- increase wildlife diversity
Where you can do this action

You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land with any of the following Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier base actions:
- CUP8: Moderate livestock grazing on moorland
- CUP9: Low livestock grazing on moorland
- CUP10: Limited livestock grazing on moorland
Your Natural England adviser will agree with you what other supplemental actions may be needed to meet the intended environmental outcomes. This could include:
- CSP18: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50-80%)
- CSP19: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)
- CSP2: Rewetting supplement
- CSP3: Bracken control supplement
- CSP9: Support for threatened species
Eligible land

Same as base action.

Available area you can enter into this action

Same as base action.

Rotational or static action

Same as base action.

What to do

Your Natural 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 either:
- have a minimum percentage of 30% of GLU grazing on land entered into the base action as cattle or ponies, or a combination of both
- follow a stocking calendar (as agreed with your Natural England adviser)
You must not supplementary feed livestock on land entered into this supplemental action, unless this has been agreed with your Natural England adviser, to support the purpose of this action.

The feeding of hay or haylage is permitted in cases of extreme weather for the purpose of animal welfare only.

Extreme weather is defined as 2 or more consecutive days of deep snow or hard frost.

Read more about supplementary feeding in extreme weather in the advice section of this action.

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 a written stocking calendar. You can record this on paper or electronically.

Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

To apply for this action, you’ll need:
- Scheduled Monument Consent (https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/consents/smc/) from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- 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 a wildlife licence (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wildlife-licences) from Natural England if your activities affect a protected species or their habitat
- get advice from your Forestry Commission woodland officer or Natural England adviser if you have other historic or archaeological features on your agreement land
All historic and archaeological 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

If you need to complete an implementation plan or a feasibility study before you apply, you can apply for funding through 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

Before applying for this supplement, consider if it’ll enhance the condition of historic and archaeological features, rather than negatively affect them.

You can get advice from:
- Historic England if you have Scheduled Monuments on your agreement land
- your Natural England adviser if you have other historic and archaeological features on your agreement land
Type of cattle

Cattle with low nutritional requirements (such as dry suckler cows) are best for sites with fibrous herbage.

Mature and placid cattle are best suited for sites where there are ground-nesting birds. This is because they reduce the risk of trampling.

Type of pony

Hardy native ponies and their crossbreeds are well suited to the harsh conditions on moorlands.

It’s important that ponies can exhibit their natural herd behaviours, preferably with a mixed age of animals.

All ponies need access to drier areas for rest. This is particularly important for pregnant mares and foals.

Grazing purple moor-grass with cattle and ponies

You can graze purple moor-grass with cattle or ponies (or a combination of both) during the spring and early summer. This can reduce species dominance.

You can usually do this between mid-May and mid-July when the grassland is growing quickly and is most palatable.

You can graze more heavily during the summer to improve vegetation structure on areas dominated by purple moor-grass.

Supplementary feeding in extreme weather

During periods of extreme weather, manage supplementary feeding to avoid damaging habitats such as blanket bog, heather, bilberry and other heath, species-rich grassland and mires. Move feeding sites regularly to minimise damage to vegetation and soils.

Avoid transferring undesirable species in the hay or haylage such as docks or rosebay willowherb.

Do not:
- feed on or next to archaeological features, steep slopes, footpaths or watercourses
- use troughs or feeders
If you need to supplementary feed multiple times in the winter or every year, consider reducing or removing your stock during this period.

Follow the farming rules for water (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rules-for-farmers-and-land-managers-to-prevent-water-pollution) – you’ll need to take steps to stop pollution from grazing livestock.

Responding to climate change

Read Natural England’s publication: ‘Adaptation for habitats in Environmental Land Management Schemes’ (https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/5673659512127488) to help you consider your general response to climate change. You must continue to follow the mandatory activities for this CSHT action.