Sustainable Farming Scheme data confirmation 2024: addendum to guidance

The SFS Data Confirmation 2024 form is available on RPW Online until 6th December 2024. We encourage you to review your form in advance of the closing date. This will ensure you can thoroughly review habitat areas and tree canopy cover on your farm.

It is important that all habitat areas on your farm are confirmed whilst completing the SFS Data Confirmation 2024 form. Confirming habitat is not a commitment to manage it at this point, you can decide if you want to claim and manage the habitat on a parcel in line with published habitat management requirements for Habitat Wales Scheme 2025. Further guidance on the scheme will be available later this year. 

Please note: If you intend to apply for Habitat Wales Scheme 2025, this is your only opportunity to review and confirm the habitat areas and classifications on your farm in advance of the scheme starting on 1 January 2025. You will not be able to amend the published habitat details within a field parcel when claiming for the scheme on the Single Application Form (SAF) 2025.

Adding or including habitat that overlaps with ‘groups’ of tree canopy

If you have a ‘group’ tree canopy with an area that is greater than 0.1hectares of continuous cover, you should not add or include an area of habitat that overlaps it. These areas of tree canopy are classed as woodland, so any habitat that overlaps them will not be accepted. 

Habitat and ‘group’ tree canopy on a parcel boundary

If you are adding or editing a habitat or ‘group’ tree canopy that extends to the field parcel boundary, you do not need to draw it along the boundary line. You can draw into the adjoining parcel and on completion the area drawn will automatically ‘snap back’ to the boundary of the field parcel being updated. This will accurately map these habitats and ‘group’ tree canopies to the field parcel boundary. 

Including ‘potential’ habitat

You can change the ‘potential’ habitat to ‘included’ habitat when completing the form if there is habitat present. However, if you do not agree with the shape and classification of that area, you should edit the habitat details to reflect the correct area and classification.

Adding new habitat and tree canopy

It is possible that some habitat and tree canopy areas have not been presented on the maps. If this is the case, these areas should be added using the ‘Add habitat area’ or ‘Add tree canopy’ button as detailed in the How to complete guidance. 

Editing habitat and tree canopy

There are editing tools available that will allow you to make changes to a habitat or tree canopy. ‘Potential’ habitat will need to be ‘included’ before you can make any changes. 

If you click the Edit button, you will be able to:

• change classification / type
• amend the shape
• amend the area

Providing additional information

If you need to clarify information about the size or location of a habitat or ‘group’ tree canopy, you can provide a comment.  For example, you could request that a habitat is mapped to the boundary of a feature that is visible on the aerial imagery such as a track. 

Habitat over water features

Habitat should not be mapped over a water feature where the feature covers a significant area of the parcel. You should map the habitat around the feature and utilise the additional information text box if required.

Mapping multiple habitats in a parcel

To ensure the mapping is as accurate as possible, you should avoid leaving any spaces between adjoining habitats. 

You can draw and overlap another existing habitat boundary. You will then be asked if you want to replace the existing habitat?  If you click ‘No’, the new area drawn will ‘snap back’ to the existing habitat boundary. This avoids any unnecessary gaps between habitat areas within the field parcel. 

If a mixture (or mosaic) of different habitats is present within a field parcel, which might be complex to map into individual habitat classifications, you can draw a single habitat area using the dominant habitat classification (i.e. the habitat classification with the greatest cover over the whole area).

‘Group’ tree canopies – shade/shadow

When editing or adding a new ‘group’ tree canopy, it is important that you only map along the tree canopy itself. In some aerial imagery, you can see the shade/shadow created by the canopy. This area should not be included when you are editing or adding a ‘group’ tree canopy. RPW will make changes to the mapping if it is clear that you have included the canopy shade/shadow. 

Individual tree canopy

The tree canopy identified as an “individual” is a representation of tree canopy, this will cover one tree or multiple trees where the canopy is touching, and the total area of the canopy is less than 0.01hectares.  If there is an ‘individual’ already displayed, then this will represent the feature present (canopy (multiple trees) or individual tree). 

SFS Data Confirmation 2024 guidance is available on our website. 

We also have additional support available:

RPW Customer Contact Centre 

The Customer Contact Centre can provide telephone support, Monday to Friday: 09:00 to 16:00. Alternatively, you can write to us using the ‘Messages’ page on your RPW Online account.

RPW Digital Assistance 

Our Regional Offices are open to the public strictly by appointment only.  The Customer Contact Centre can make a ‘Digital Assistance’ appointment for you to attend one of our offices, where a member of staff can guide you through the process.

Digital Assistance appointments are available until 5 December 2024, on a first come first served basis. 

Farm Liaison Service

Farm Liaison Service (FLS) staff will also be available to guide you through the process and provide support and guidance on other current topics. Contact the Farm Liaison Service.