CWS7: Manage historic features in woodlands 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

£943 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

The aim of this supplemental action is to manage historic features in woodlands, including scheduled monuments.

The purpose is to deliver benefits to:
- protect historic features above and below ground
- reduce the number of features in woodland on the Heritage at Risk register
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 (https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwd2-woodland-improvement).

You can do this supplemental action in established woodlands that either contain a historic or archaeological feature:
- identified on your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER)
- identified by you and agreed with a Forestry Commission woodland officer
You can only use this supplemental action on the actual area of the scheduled monument or historic feature

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:
- CSP2: Rewetting supplement
- CSP3: Bracken control supplement
- 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
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.

The advice you’re given from Forestry Commission is specific to your land which means (where relevant) you may also need to:
- manage scrub and tree growth to protect the historic feature above and below ground
- annually monitor the condition of trees growing on historic features
- move vehicle or other access routes at least 6m away from historic and archaeological features and at least 20m away from scheduled monuments
- maintain appropriate vegetation cover to reduce bare soil patches and limit erosion
- get consent for the removal of mature trees
- carry out appropriate management such as coppicing, felling or tree surgery on trees that could damage an historic feature
- retain stumps and roots
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 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:
- 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

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 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 historic features are present and how to manage them.

Create an open buffer zone

You may need to create an open buffer zone to minimise ground disturbance around your historic feature.

Read the Forestry Commission’s:
- resources on ‘Woodland and archaeology’ (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/historic-environment-resources/woodland-and-archaeology/) for a broad range of woodland management information
- historic environment guidance for forestry in England (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/historic-environment-guidance-for-forestry-in-england/historic-environment-guidance-for-forestry-in-england) for all types of forestry projects