CSP9: Support for threatened species
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

Up to £204 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

The aim of this supplemental action is to provide additional support for species or species assemblages under threat above what is already provided by other Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) actions. For example, a bespoke seed mix for turtle dove or scarification of ground for heath fritillary butterfly.

The purpose of this is to provide additional land management or specialist items to support threatened species that cannot otherwise be carried out by the underlying action.

Where you can do this action

You can only do this supplemental action on eligible land agreed by a Natural England specialist or Forestry Commission woodland officer.

Your Natural England or Forestry Commission adviser will agree with you what other supplemental actions may be needed to meet the intended environmental outcomes. This could include:
- CCT6: Coastal vegetation management supplement
- CES6: Maintain features for wildfire management (fire belts) supplement
- CGS16: Rush control supplement
- CGS23: Haymaking supplement
- CGS24: Haymaking supplement (late cut)
- CSP1: Difficult site supplement
- CSP2: Rewetting supplement
- CSP3: Bracken control supplement
- CSP5: Shepherding supplement (non-moorland)
- CSP6: Cattle grazing supplement (non-moorland)
- CSP7: Introduction of cattle grazing on the Isles of Scilly supplement
- CSP11: Manage scrapes and gutters supplement
- CSP12: Rhododendron control and management supplement
- CSP16: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (50-80%)
- CSP17: Keep native breeds on grazed habitats supplement (more than 80%)
- CSP18: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (50 to 80%)
- CSP19: Keep native breeds on extensively managed habitats supplement (more than 80%)
- CSW14: Nil fertiliser supplement
- CSW26: Enhanced floodplain storage supplement
- CUP15: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland supplement (minimum 30% GLU)
- CUP16: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (minimum 70% GLU) supplement
- CUP17: Keep cattle and ponies on moorland (100% GLU) supplement
- CUP18: Manage features for wildfire management (fire and fuel breaks) supplement
- CUP7: Manage non-peat moorland soils for flood and drought resilience supplement
- CWS10: 2-zone rides supplement
- CWS11: 3-zone rides supplement
- CWS2: Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) supplement
- CWS5: Improve woodland resilience supplement
- CWS7: Manage historic features in woodlands supplement
- CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) supplement
- CWS9: Manage woodlands for flood and drought mitigation supplement
- CWT12: Wetland grazing 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 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.

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:
- all invoices from any specialist items purchased, such as specialist seed mixes
- feeding diary
Consents, permissions and licensing requirements

To apply for this action, you’ll need:
- to complete a support for threatened species form (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-threatened-species-proforma-csp9) with support from your Natural England and Forestry Commission woodland officer
- Scheduled Monument Consent (https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/planning/consents/smc/) from Historic England for any work on scheduled monuments
- consent from Natural England (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protected-areas-sites-of-special-scientific-interest#get-consent-to-carry-out-operations-on-your-land) for any activity on land designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI)
- consent from the Environment Agency or other responsible bodies for works
You may need to:
- agree an implementation plan or feasibility study with your Natural England adviser
- get advice from your Natural England adviser or Forestry Commission woodland officer if you have other archaeological or historic 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 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 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.