We are deeply disappointed by the removal of funding for species rich grasslands within the English ELM scheme. In an Defra announcement the review of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the Priority Habitat Species-rich Grassland (GRH6) option has been completely removed from the SFI26 offer. The option was introduced in 2024 to recognise the importance of this habitat for nature, climate, farming and heritage. This decision cuts farmers off from a valuable pot of money to help support action to restore and manage grassland habitats.
Defra’s rationale is that comparable actions are available in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT), such as the much welcomed CGS18 for floodplain meadows. However, this CSHT funding is currently only available to farmers by invitation, and there is possibly a limit to eligibility particularly for those at the start of creation and restoration. Removal of the SFI for Species Rich Grassland takes away a valuable stepping stone with no openly accessible funding for farmers who want to manage or restore their species-rich grazing pastures and meadows. Without thisentry level route or a more open CSHT scheme, farmers wanting to manage or restore species-rich grasslands can't access government funding, forcing some to consider ploughing or fertilising such land, destroying irreplaceable habitats.
We are working with Plantlife, RSPB, Pasture for Life, the Real Farming Trust, the Soil Association and others to call for the Government calling on the UK Government to demonstrate their commitment to farmers and to nature by:
• reviewing this decision and ensuring SFI design values the work of farmers who manage and restore Priority Habitat and other species-rich grasslands;
• urgently increase investment in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier to ensure it is accessible to more farmers to enable the management and expansion of priority habitats and recovery of rare and threatened species, and;
• investing in Natural England’s farming advisory capacity to scale up Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier to help deliver value-for-money outcomes for nature, climate and food, from the skills and hard work of participating farmers across the ELM scheme.
A statement jointly signed by key farming and conservation organisations has been sent to the Defra Farming Minister, the Defra Director & Deputy Director. One of the main proposals to Defra officials will be the need for a Grassland Stakeholder Forum to work with them on developing the ELM scheme going forward (and to replace the previous Grassland ELM Stakeholder Group which the FMP were part of).
if you are concerned please do add your own comments at the bottom of the Defra blogs https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/01/08/the-new-sfi-offer-for-2026/ and https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/02/24/sfi26-details-definitions-and-what-to-expect/ .
In the meantime the FMP will continue to support farmers and landowners to engage with the CSHT action for floodplain meadows.
