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Two new CSHT single-focus agreements open for expressions of interest
Two new CSHT single-focus agreements open for expressions of interest
Post date
November 2026
Farmers and land managers can now submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for traditional orchards and wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl under Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). The two new single-focus agreements opened on 3 November 2026.
What agreements are available?
Single-focus agreements are simplified agreements focused on delivering a priority environmental action. The two new topics are:
- traditional orchards
- wet grassland for wintering waders and wildfowl
They join the single-focus agreements introduced in July for:
- species-rich grassland
- scheduled monument management
More than 1,100 EOIs have been submitted for single-focus agreements so far. Expressions of interest remain open for all four topics.
Check whether you can submit an EOI
Before applying, read the CSHT applicant’s guide to check your eligibility, including the requirements for the actions you want to undertake.
You should not submit an EOI if any of the following apply to the land you intend to include:
- you have already been invited to apply for CSHT
- you are at the pre-application stage or are expecting pre-application advice from Natural England
- you have an agreement that expires more than nine months after the date of your EOI
How to submit your expression of interest
Check that your business email address, contact telephone number and permissions are up to date in the Rural Payments service. If you are acting on behalf of someone else, make sure you have the correct permissions. Incorrect details or permissions could delay your EOI or lead to it being rejected.
When you are ready, complete the online EOI form for CSHT. The guidance explains what information you need to have ready. Enter all details accurately to help your EOI be processed smoothly.
If you are interested in more than one single-focus agreement topic, you must complete a separate EOI form for each topic.
What happens next?
A Natural England representative will contact you within 10 weeks of submitting your EOI to explain the next steps and confirm whether a site visit is needed. For scheduled monument management, Historic England will contact you instead.
Have the RPA land parcel numbers and sizes ready for the land you want to include, so you can provide them to Natural England or Historic England.
Submitting an EOI does not automatically mean you will be offered an agreement.
