CWS8: Manage native woodland including ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNW) 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

£144 per hectare (ha) per year

Action’s aim

The aim of this supplemental action is to manage native woodland, including ancient and semi-natural woodlands.

The purpose is to deliver benefits for net zero and biodiversity.

Where you can do this action

You can only do 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) action.

You can do this supplemental action on established woodlands that are native woodland. This is a woodland mainly or entirely composed of native species.

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:
- CES6: Maintain features for wildfire management (fire belts) supplement
- 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
- CUP18: Manage features for wildfire management (fire and fuel breaks) supplement
- CWS7: Manage historic features in woodlands supplement
- CWS10: 2-zone rides supplement
- CWS11: 3-zone rides supplement
- CWS9: Manage woodlands for flood and drought mitigation supplement
You cannot do this supplemental action on the same land as:
- CSW8: Manage and restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS)
- CWS5: Improve woodland resilience
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 trees by coppicing, thinning, selective felling or regenerative felling
- identify, map and tag existing and future veteran trees
- manage areas of scrub to create a mix of woodland scrub habitats
- maintain restocked areas and manage grazing to make sure trees are established
- avoid using herbicides in areas with a surviving semi-natural ground flora, such as wild herbs, grasses, ferns and mosses
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 management activities you will carry out using this supplement. It could include some or all of the following activities.

Manage scrub

Cut areas of scrub back to prevent them from turning into full canopy woodland. Clear the residue from cut areas to enable regrowth.

Manage veteran trees

Veteran tree growth will benefit if you remove younger competing trees around them.

Restore coppice

Managed coppicing can open the canopy to let in light on the woodland floor so that species such as primrose and violet can grow.

You may need to reinstate management of coppice areas of your woodland as agreed with your Forestry Commission woodland officer.

You may need to replant or allow for natural regeneration if regrowth fails to maintain full stocking of coppice.

Thin or fell areas of woodland

Thinning and felling stands can increase the species and structural diversity of your woodland.

You may be required to restock your woodland after felling using tree species that:
- are more suited to the future climate of your area
- increase genetic diversity to improve disease or pest control
You can use the Ecological Site Classification (ESC) (https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/fthr/ecological-site-classification/) tool to identify vegetation communities native to your site and select species suitable for predicted climate change.

Your Forestry Commission woodland officer can help you to identify suitable species for any restocking required.

Manage grazing

Managed grazing can be beneficial for tree regeneration in some woodlands. Your Forestry Commission woodland officer can advise if grazing is appropriate in your woodland. You will need to complete a grazing management plan to show your intended grazing regime.

Read the Forestry Commission’s good practice guide on ‘Managing native and ancient woodland in England’ (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-ancient-and-native-woodland-in-england) for more information about woodland management.

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.