ELMS Payments for Barn Owls

Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Offers and Capital Grants

SFI Offers

AHW2: Supplementary winter bird food
£732 (AHW2) per tonne per year (maximum 1 tonne for every 2 ha of action CAHL2)
Spreading a seed mix between multiple feeding areas from December through April. The target is to provide seed-eating farmland birds with food when seed is in short supply and anticipation of the breeding season. However inevitably non-target species namely small mammals will also feed on the seed providing hunting opportunities for Barn Owl over the difficult late winter period.

OFA3: Supplementary winter bird food (organic land)
£935 (OFA3) per tonne per year (maximum 1 tonne for every 2 ha of action CAHL2)
Spreading a seed mix between multiple feeding areas from December through April. The target is to provide seed-eating farmland birds with food when seed is in short supply and anticipation of the breeding season. However inevitably non-target species namely small mammals will also feed on the seed providing hunting opportunities for Barn Owl over the difficult late winter period.

AHW3: Beetle banks
£764 per ha/per year
Create and maintain an earth ridge measuring between 3m to 5m wide and a minimum of 0.4m high. Thereafter establish and maintain a tussocky grass mixture. These areas will provide refuge and forage for small mammals and insects, subsequently offering hunting opportunity for Barn Owls and Little Owls.

AHW6: Basic overwinter stubble
£58 per ha/per year
After harvest, stubble is to be kept until mid-February being left herbicide and fertiliser free. Winter stubbles containing spilt grain are thought to be an important food source for species such as Wood Mouse, Bank Voles, Harvest Mice, House Mice and Brown Rats therefore providing prey opportunity for Barn Owls. The organic option additionally must have a green overwinter cover crop (mustard or fodder raddish) covering 10-50% of the area.

OFA1: Overwinter stubble (organic land)
£264 per ha/per year
After harvest, stubble is to be kept until mid-February being left herbicide and fertiliser free. Winter stubbles containing spilt grain are thought to be an important food source for species such as Wood Mouse, Bank Voles, Harvest Mice, House Mice and Brown Rats therefore providing prey opportunity for Barn Owls. The organic option additionally must have a green overwinter cover crop (mustard or fodder raddish) covering 10-50% of the area.

AHW7: Enhanced overwinter stubble
£589 per ha/per year
After harvest stubble and any regeneration is to be kept until mid-summer of the following year being left herbicide and fertiliser free. Winter stubbles containing spilt grain are thought to be an important food source for species such as Wood Mouse, Bank Voles, Harvest Mice, House Mice and Brown Rats therefore providing prey opportunity for Barn Owls.

AHW8: Whole crop spring cereals and overwinter stubble
£596 per ha/per year
Establish a spring cereal crop and then harvest as a whole crop (grain and straw) leaving stubble in place from harvest until mid-February. Winter stubbles containing spilt grain are thought to be an important food source for species such as Wood Mouse, Bank Voles, Harvest Mice, House Mice and Brown Rats therefore providing prey opportunity for Barn Owls.

AHW9: Unharvested cereal headland
£1,072 per ha/per year
During spring plant cereal crop at a reduced density in plots or strips at least 6m wide. Crop and any naturally occurring arable plants will remain unharvested until mid-February following year. Cereal crops can provide foraging and burrowing habitat for small mammals predominantly wood mice. Barn Owls have been seen to hunt along vehicle tracks and crop edges.

AHW12: Manage woodland edges on arable land
£428 per ha/per year
Creation of a strip of unfertilised and pesticide free scrub and grass mosaic through natural regeneration between the arable and existing woodland at a maximum of 6m. Depending on the amount of scrub the marginal grassy areas can offer good foraging opportunities for Barn Owls.

CIGL1: Take grassland field corners or blocks out of management
£333 per ha/per year
This action’s aim is that grassland field corners or blocks are taken out of management so tussocky grass can develop. This payment is beneficial to Barn Owls as by taking the areas out of management it creates foraging habitat for Barn Owls in the form of rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer).

CLIG3: Manage grassland with very low nutrient inputs
£151 per ha/per year
Grassland of varied sward height with a good cover of flowering grass and wildflower species. The varied structure will be achieved through sympathetic grazing or cutting rotations. The varied sward height and rotational management will provide refuge and forage for small mammals throughout the year and in turn provide good hunting opportunities for Barn Owls.

GRH7: Haymaking supplement
£157 per ha/per year
Hay fields can provide refuge and foraging opportunities for small mammals and therefore hunting opportunities for Barn Owls all the way up until they are cut. The additional requirements to leave an uncut margin around at least half the edge of the field will provide continued shelter and forage for small mammals post cut and therefore continued hunting opportunities for Barn Owls.
The late cut supplement means hay will not be cut at the point when prey demand by Barn Owls is reaching its peak due to adults providing for young in the nest.

GRH8: Haymaking supplement (late cut)
£187 per ha/per year
Hay fields can provide refuge and foraging opportunities for small mammals and therefore hunting opportunities for Barn Owls all the way up until they are cut. The additional requirements to leave an uncut margin around at least half the edge of the field will provide continued shelter and forage for small mammals post cut and therefore continued hunting opportunities for Barn Owls.
The late cut supplement means hay will not be cut at the point when prey demand by Barn Owls is reaching its peak due to adults providing for young in the nest.

GRH10: Lenient grazing supplement
£28 per ha/per year
Reducing grazing pressure through rotational or intermittent grazing (particularly with cattle rather than sheep) to achieve a more varied sward structure). By maintaining areas of higher sward height refuge and forage will be available for small mammals in turn providing hunting opportunities for Barn Owls.

SCR1: Create scrub and open habitat mosaics
£588 per ha/per year
Creation of an open mosaic habitat of scrub, grasses and flowering plants. If managed at the minimum density of scrub cover required (10% of the area) creating rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) in between availability and accessibility of small mammal prey and subsequent Barn Owl hunting opportunities will be created.

SCR2: Manage scrub and open habitat mosaics
£350 per ha/per year
Creation of an open mosaic habitat of scrub, grasses and flowering plants. If managed at the minimum density of scrub cover required (10% of the area) creating rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) in between availability and accessibility of small mammal prey and subsequent Barn Owl hunting opportunities will be created.

HEF1: Maintain weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings
£5 per sq m/ per year
To help maintain traditional farm or forestry buildings using traditional methods and materials. Many traditional buildings offer roost and nest opportunities for Barn Owls therefore their preservation is important to retain these opportunities.

HEF2: Maintain weatherproof traditional farm or forestry buildings in remote areas
£8 per sq m/ per year
To help maintain traditional farm or forestry buildings using traditional methods and materials. Many traditional buildings offer roost and nest opportunities for Barn Owls therefore their preservation is important to retain these opportunities.

CIPM2: Flower-rich grass margins, blocks or in-field strips
£798 per ha/per year
Creation and maintenance of margins, blocks or in-field strips containing flowering plants. Management of this option is flexible and can again be managed as rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) as long as the seed mix meets the requirements. Barn Owls hearing when hunting extends roughly 3m either side of them so optimally margins will be 6m or more.

CHRW1: Assess and record hedgerow condition
£5 per 100m/per side/per year
To understand and plan management to improve hedgerow condition. Hedgerows are beneficial to Barn Owls by providing refuge and forage for prey species as well as providing Barn Owl foraging habitat in the form of associated mandatory margins.

CHRW2: Manage hedgerows
£13 per 100m/per side/per year
Following best practice management rotation in regard to planting, cutting, laying or coppicing. Hedgerows are beneficial to Barn Owls by providing refuge and forage for prey species as well as providing Barn Owl foraging habitat in the form of associated mandatory margins.

CHRW3: Maintain or establish hedgerow trees
£10 per 100m/per year
Maintain existing or establish new trees in hedgerows at least one tree per 100m of hedgerow. This payment is beneficial to Barn Owls as it can help pay to retain mature boundary trees that may provide roost/nest opportunities. Especially as dead and dying trees can count within this option.

BND2: Maintain earth banks or stone-faced hedgebanks
£11 per 100m/ per side/ per year
Visually check condition and follow up with repairs as necessary. Earth or hedgebanks are beneficial to Barn Owls by providing refuge and forage for prey species.

CAHL4: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on arable and horticultural land
£515 per ha/per year
Creation and maintenance of an intact grass sward throughout the year with no tracks, compaction or poaching. These margins can be managed as rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) which is great foraging habitat for Barn Owls. Barn owls hearing when hunting extends roughly 3m either side of them so optimally margins of 6m or above would be preferred.

CIGL3: 4m to 12m grass buffer strip on improved grassland
£235 per ha/per year
Creation and maintenance of an intact grass sward throughout the year with no tracks, compaction or poaching. These margins can be managed as rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) which is great foraging habitat for Barn Owls. Barn owls hearing when hunting extends roughly 3m either side of them so optimally margins of 6m or above would be preferred.

BFS1: 12m to 24m watercourse buffer strip on cultivated land
£707 per ha/per year
Establishment of an unfertilised and pesticide free grass buffer to reduce the risk of sediment, pesticides and nutrient runoff into watercourses or sensitive habitats. This buffer strip can be managed as rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) providing foraging habitat for Barn Owls.

BFS2: Buffer in-field ponds on arable land
£681 per ha/per year
Creation of a 10-20m wide grass strip surrounding a pond left to develop a mix of tussocky grasses, flowering plants and low scrub. development of tussocky rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) will provide good foraging opportunities for Barn Owls.

BFS3: Buffer in-field ponds on improved grassland
£311 per ha/per year
Creation of a 10-20m wide grass strip surrounding a pond left to develop a mix of tussocky grasses, flowering plants and low scrub. development of tussocky rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) will provide good foraging opportunities for Barn Owls.

BFS6: 6m to 12m habitat strip next to watercourses
£742/per ha/per year
Creation of a riparian strip a minimum of 4m wide up to 12m. Encouraging growth of scrub and grasses along the watercourse and denying access by livestock through fencing. Managed as rough grassland (with a minimum 7cm litter-layer) and not allowing high levels of scrub development will provide good foraging habitat for Barn Owls.

WBD3: In-field grass strips
£765 per ha/per year
Creation and maintenance of grass strips to reduce the quantity of sediment, nutrient and pesticide run off. The establishment of a dense grassy area will benefit small mammal populations and in turn provide Barn Owl foraging opportunities. These strips have to be cut yearly however no prescription is given to the height of cutting so a litter layer could still form (minimum 7cm deep).

CAHL2: Winter bird food on arable and horticultural land
£853 per ha/per year
Establish blocks or strips at least 6m wide and between 0.4ha and 5ha in size sew a mix containing at least 6 small seed-bearing crops. The seeds produced during Autumn should provide a supply through the winter for birds but also small mammals and in turn Barn Owls hunting.