Rural Payments and Services

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

The aim of this item is to improve water quality by creating a wetland to intercept and treat run-off that currently discharges direct to a watercourse or freshwater drain*. Wetlands can improve water quality through natural processes, including filtration, retention, biological breakdown and plant uptake.

*Wetlands designed in accordance with the Constructed Farm Wetland Design Manual for Scotland and Northern Ireland, 2008 can be used to intercept run-off, which does not currently discharge direct to a watercourse or freshwater drain providing it complies with the requirements below.

Any land is eligible, provided that it meets all of the requirements set out below.

Wetlands that receive field run-off only must be combined with the capital option for Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems - Sediment Traps and Bunds.

Wetlands that only receive roof run-off can be standalone, but those that run-off from a steading must be combined with the capital option for:

• Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems - Sediment Traps and Bunds
• Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems - Swale

You can check if this item is available on your holding here.

You must prepare a plan which must include a map of the relevant fields / steading identifying the location of the proposed rural sustainable drainage system feature.

For rural sustainable drainage system features accepting run-off from a steading, the plan must include a calculation of the size of the rural sustainable drainage system feature(s) including the amount of run-off draining to it (treatment volume).

You must also produce a diffuse pollution steading assessment.

Only run-off which does not fall within the definition of slurry may be conveyed to a wetland, unless the run-off is of a type permitted by The Control of Pollution (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (Scotland) Regulations 2003 as amended to be conveyed to a constructed farm wetland, and the wetland has been designed and constructed in line with the Constructed Farm Wetland Design Manual for Scotland and Northern Ireland, 2008 as evidenced by a sign-off from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Additionally:

• run-off from pesticide handling or washdown areas must not be conveyed to a wetland
• fencing must be provided to protect people and livestock
• existing wetlands must not be used
• you must obtain planning permission, or have confirmation that planning permission is not required for your proposed wetland
• where a proprietary lining is used, a receipt for the liner will be required
• where a rural sustainable drainage system swale or sediment trap is being used in conjunction with the wetland, the wetland must be created downstream of the swale or sediment trap

You can claim:

• £9 per square metre for wetland with a proprietary lining
• £5 per square metre for wetland with a soil lining

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the wetland
• that there is a receipt for a proprietary liner
• only run-off that does not fall within the definition of slurry is conveyed to a wetland (unless it is a Constructed Farm Wetland)
• run-off from pesticide handling or wash-down areas is not conveyed to a wetland
• fencing has been provided to protect people and livestock
• existing wetlands are not used

Supporting guidance is available for this option.

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