CIGL2 · SFI 2026 · Farmland wildlife (grassland)
Winter bird food on improved grassland
£515 per hectare, per year
Runs for 3 years.
Rotational or static — your choice whether it moves or stays in the same place.
Where it applies
Temporary grassland, Improved grassland, Permanent grassland
Eligibility conditions
- Below the moorland line
What you'll do
Manage improved grassland so it feeds farmland birds over winter — start within 12 months and leave the grass to set seed through the autumn and winter. It works best where the sward has a high ryegrass content (around half the area or more). Leave it un-grazed after the final silage or hay cut so the seed stays available. You can keep it in the same place each year or move it for years 2 and 3.
Evidence to keep
- Photos showing the grass left to set seed through autumn and winter
- Dated management records (cuts, grazing on/off)
- A record of the final silage/hay cut date
When
- Sep–Feb: Leave the grass to set seed through autumn and winter
Combining with other actions
Actions that can be paid on the same area:
- SFI 2026: AGF1, AGF2, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
- SFI 2024: AGF1, AGF2, CIPM1, CNUM1, CSAM1, OFC1, OFC3, OFM1, OFM4, PRF1, PRF2, SOH1
- SFI 2023: IPM1, NUM1, SAM1
- CS Higher Tier: CAGF1, CAGF2, CAGF3, CAGF4, CHS3, CHS9, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
- Countryside Stewardship: HS3, HS9, OR1, OR3, OT1, OT3
Checked against GOV.UK Find Funding for Land or Farms on 10 July 2026. Read the official CIGL2 guidance on GOV.UK.
All actions