CWT2: Buffer in-field ponds and ditches on arable land
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

£681 per hectare (ha) per year

Calculate the hectarage by:
- measuring the length of the buffer strip in metres (m) along the edge of the feature being protected
- multiplying that length by the relevant width (10m to 20m) to give the area in m2
- dividing that area by 10,000 to convert it into ha
Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there’s a wide grass buffer strip around a pond or ditch that:
- has an intact grass sward throughout the year, without tracks and compacted areas
- is left to develop a mix of tussocky grasses, flowering plants and low scrub
- has minimal poaching by livestock
The purpose of this is to:
- protect ponds or ditches from nutrient leaching and sediment runoff
- help improve water quality
- provide a habitat for wildlife
Where you can do this action

You can do this action on eligible land that’s located below the moorland line and adjacent to either:
- a pond
- a ditch that’s under: CWT3: Manage ditches of high environmental value (https://www.gov.uk/find-funding-for-land-or-farms/cwt3-manage-ditches-of-high-environmental-value) in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier
You cannot do this action:
- around ponds used for industrial purposes, including effluent and balancing ponds or small water supply reservoirs
- on historic or archaeological features
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 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 or maintain a 10m to 20m wide grass buffer strip adjacent to the pond or ditch in the first year of your agreement
- allow tussocky grass and low scrub to develop
You must not:
- allow scrub to develop on more than half of the pond or ditch margin – the southern side of the pond or ditch must remain open
- apply fertilisers or manures
- apply pesticides – you may be able to use herbicides to spot-treat or weed-wipe for the control of injurious weeds, invasive non-native plant species, nettles or other plants if this has been agreed with your Natural England adviser
- cut except to control the spread of woody growth – you can only cut between September and February
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
- photographs
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:
- 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 advice from your Natural England adviser 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
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 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.

You can establish the grass buffer strip by either:
- sowing a seed mix
- using natural regeneration – this is the ideal method
If you’re sowing a seed mix, you can help the grass buffer strip establish by:
- removing any subsoil compaction to prepare a seedbed (except on land with historic or archaeological features)
- cut regularly in the first 12 to 24 months to encourage the grasses to tiller and control weeds – try to avoid cutting when the soil is wet as it may cause compaction