LH1: Management of lowland heathland
What is LH1?
LH1 is an action under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. It pays £412 per year for management of lowland heathland.
What do I need to do?
* Create a wide range of heather ages and structure through appropriate management (grazing, burning, and/or cutting).
* Provide bare ground cover between 1% and 10%.
* Maintain tree and scrub cover below 15%.
* Maintain the full range of age classes of Western or European gorse.
* Manage bracken so that cover is less than 10% in dense canopy.
What evidence do I need?
Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request: * copies of the Wildfire Risk Assessment and, where required, the Wildfire Response Plan (agreed with fire service) and Wildfire Management Plan - for guidance and example plans see the Uplands Management Group template or Forestry Commission’s guide field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices consents or permissions connected with this work any sites grazed will require a grazing activity record photographs of the existing bracken On your annual claim you will be asked to declare that you haven’t carried out any activities prohibited by the option requirements. You should also be aware that at the start of each claim year, a percentage of agreement holders will also be asked to take and submit the following photographic records: photographs of the management undertaken
Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:
copies of the Wildfire Risk Assessment and, where required, the Wildfire Response Plan (agreed with fire service) and Wildfire Management Plan - for guidance and example plans see the Uplands Management Group template or Forestry Commission’s guide
field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices
consents or permissions connected with this work
How much does LH1 pay?
LH1 pays £412 per year.
Which land is eligible?
Available for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier Whole or part parcel Non-rotational Only on lowland heathland priority habitat; this can include areas of acid grassland mixed with heathland Note: this option is not intended for use: on extensive grassland areas (without heather or dwarf shrubs) as these should be put into a relevant grassland option, such as: [GS6 - Management of species-rich grassland](https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20250603131008mp_/https://www.gov.uk/c
Related links
This information is provided by Farmwalk based on published government guidance. Always check the latest guidance on GOV.UK.