Every subsidy action requires evidence of compliance. Here's what you need to collect and when.

When you're enrolled in SFI, Countryside Stewardship, or other schemes, you must demonstrate that you're completing the required activities. RPA and Natural England may inspect your records at any time.

Most actions require dated, geo-tagged photographs showing the activity has been completed. Take photos:

Before starting work (baseline)

During the activity

After completion

At regular intervals for ongoing management

Farm maps showing where actions are being undertaken

Management plans for woodland, hedgerow, or habitat actions

Soil management plans for soil health actions

Activity dates and durations

Inputs used (seed mixes, fertiliser rates)

Livestock grazing records (stocking rates, dates)

Mowing/cutting dates

Spraying records

Soil organic matter tests for soil health actions

pH and nutrient analysis

Baseline and follow-up testing at specified intervals

Ecological surveys for habitat actions

Tree condition assessments for woodland actions

Water quality monitoring for watercourse actions

Farmwalk automatically captures and organises your evidence:

Geo-tagged, timestamped photos linked to specific parcels and actions

Evidence mapped to scheme requirements so you know what's missing

Automatic reminders before evidence deadlines

Single upload, reused across every scheme you're enrolled in

1. Collect evidence as you go - don't leave it until inspection

2. Use geo-tagged photos - RPA expects location data

3. Keep a simple activity log - dates, what you did, where

4. Store everything digitally - paper records get lost

5. Check requirements annually - evidence standards can change