CGS25: Legumes on improved 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

£102 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

This action’s aim is that there are legumes growing from spring until early autumn.

The purpose of this is to:
- manage nutrient efficiency
- protect the soil surface
- provide root growth that maintains soil structure, supports soil biology, and reduces nutrient leaching, soil erosion and runoff
- support an integrated pest management approach if located close to cropped areas
Where you can do this action

You can do this action on eligible land that’s located below the moorland line.

You cannot do this action on:
- a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
- land that contains historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER) assessment
- peaty soils – read the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) guidance on characteristics of different soils (https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/characteristics-different-soils) for more information
- a priority habitat, including good quality semi-improved grassland and land mapped as ‘no main habitat, but additional habitat exists’ – these are mapped on Magic on the Priority Habitat Inventory (https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.html?chosenLayers=bapundertergrassIndex&box=-1104152:-6459:1904152:1406459)
Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh that is managed as improved grassland may be eligible for this action, if agreed with your 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 at the same location each year of this 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 a mixed sward of grasses and legumes in the first 12 months of the agreement
- establish legumes by adding them to an existing grass sward or sowing a mix of grass and legumes
- maintain the required area of the mixed sward for the length of your agreement
If you’re rotating this action around your farm for each year of your agreement, you must do it for a period of time that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim.

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 Forestry Commission woodland officer or 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
- apply for an Environmental Impact Assessment (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changing-uncultivated-semi-natural-and-rural-land-when-you-need-permission/check-if-you-need-a-screening-decision) screening or consent decision from Natural England if you intend to reseed existing permanent grassland
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.

Choosing a site

It is not appropriate to use this action on semi-improved or unimproved permanent pasture.

This action could benefit:
- permanent grassland which has been re-sown with productive grass or other herbaceous forage
- temporary grassland
Increasing legumes in the sward will help to reduce fertiliser use but nitrogen fixation from the legumes will reduce if the soil phosphate and pH are not at optimal levels.

Spreading the legume areas across the farm can help provide a network of habitats for farmland wildlife.

Choosing a seed mix

White clover, and to a lesser extent red clover, will be easiest to establish.

Sainfoin, lucerne and alsike clover are more suited to grassland that you cut.

Your seed supplier can help you choose a seed mix that’s the best match for your land and local conditions.

Establishing legumes on improved grassland

For best results, you need fertile and healthy soil. The ideal target pH is 6 to 7 and a phosphate level of 2 or above – legumes perform better at the higher end of this range.

You’ll need the soil structure to be in good condition and free from issues such as compaction.

Try to minimise weeds and existing grasses before establishing legumes. Legumes do not compete well with these more vigorous species during the establishment phase.

Try to sow into weed free (clean) ground.

Legumes need a temperature of at least 8 to 10 degrees Celsius for successful germination and establishment so do not sow too early in the spring or too late in the summer.

Try to sow when a period of warm moist conditions is expected.

Good seed-soil contact is essential given the small size of many seeds. Create a fine and firm seedbed and shallow-sow the seeds, ideally 5mm but no more than 10mm, followed by plenty of rolling.

Managing legumes on improved grassland

You can manage legumes on improved grassland by grazing them with livestock, cutting them, or both.

Rest the legumes from grazing or cutting to allow flowers to open and provide a source of pollen and nectar for insects.

Be aware that white and red clover can cause bloat, particularly in cattle.

In general legumes need to be cut and grazed at a greater height than grass swards to ensure their persistence.

For best results, aim for the sward to have 50% to 60% legume cover when at peak growth.

You can read the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) guidance on establishing and growing clover (https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/establishing-and-growing-clover).