SW2: 4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland

What is SW2?

SW2 is an action under the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme. It pays £235.00 per year for 4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland.

What do I need to do?

* Establish and maintain a 4m to 6m wide grass strip with an intact sward, free from vehicle or stock damage.

* Do not apply fertilisers or manures.

* Do not use pesticides , except for spot treating injurious weeds, invasive non-native species, nettles, or bracken.

* Do not remove fallen timber or limbs of hedgerow trees over 30cm diameter at breast height.

* Do not cut the buffer strip , except to control woody growth.

What evidence do I need?

Where there is uncertainty about whether the aims of the options have been delivered, we will take into account any records or evidence you may have kept demonstrating delivery of the aims of the option. This will include any steps you’ve taken to follow the recommended management set out above. It’s your responsibility to keep such records if you want to rely on these to support your claim.

Field operations at the parcel level, including associated invoices

Input records showing that the grassland has received more than 100kg of nitrogen per ha per year

At the start of each claim year, you may be asked to take and submit the following photographic records.

* Photographs of the strips

How much does SW2 pay?

SW2 pays £235.00 per year.

Which land is eligible?

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier and Higher Tier On the edges of intensively managed, improved grassland fields that are: receiving more than 100 kilograms (kg) for every hectare (ha) of nitrogen per year in the form of fertilisers or manures. between the productive part of the field and a feature or habitat (which must be identified on the Farm Environment Record (FER)), such as: hedgerows and hedge trees remnants of trees on former boundary lines stone walls woodlands

SFI SW2: 4m to 6m buffer strip on intensive grassland