Rewilding Wetlands: How SAS Aquatics Supports Funded Projects

Published October 2025

Wetlands are some of the UK’s most precious and productive habitats. They filter water, store carbon, buffer floods, and provide a home for extraordinary wildlife. Yet, too many of our wetlands have been drained, neglected, or over-managed.

Through the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme, landowners can now access targeted funding to restore and manage these landscapes. One of the newest options—CWT12: Wetland Grazing Supplement—is designed to help farmers and land managers maintain healthy wetland habitats through carefully timed grazing.

At SAS Aquatics, we specialise in designing and delivering projects like this. Here’s how it works, and why it benefits your land, your livestock, and the wider environment.

What is the Wetland Grazing Supplement (CWT12)?

CWT12 is a supplementary action under CSHT. The official CWT12 guidance lists £566 per hectare per year over five years for eligible agreements. Payment depends on eligibility, the agreed actions and compliance with the agreement; it is not guaranteed for every site. Check the current guidance before budgeting. It can be used alongside base actions such as:

• CWT13: Manage and restore fen, reedbed and wetland mosaics
• CWT14: Create fen, reedbed or wetland mosaics
• CWT10: Manage lowland raised bog

The aim is simple: maintain wetland habitats in the right condition through seasonal grazing, rather than letting them scrub over or degrade.

How SAS Aquatics Can Deliver

Implementing a wetland grazing plan isn’t just about putting cattle out to pasture. It requires ecological understanding, hydrological management, and practical delivery on the ground.

Our approach combines:

• Site assessments – Using DEFRA’s MAGIC map, soil/water testing, and habitat surveys.
• Hydrological restoration – Blocking ditches, removing historic drains, and re-profiling channels to restore natural water levels.
• Tailored grazing plans – Matching native breeds (e.g. Devon Reds, Exmoor ponies, Belted Galloways) to your land’s capacity and seasonal cycles.
• Habitat works – Creating scrapes, controlling invasive scrub, maintaining wetland mosaics.
• Stakeholder liaison – Working with Natural England, Historic England, and the RPA to secure approvals.
• Evidence and records – Stocking logs and habitat monitoring to stay compliant.

We provide practical project support and delivery, including habitat proposals, supporting scope and costs, on-the-ground works and agreed management. We do not currently submit grant applications on behalf of clients; the applicant or their appointed adviser is responsible for submission.

Why Wetland Restoration Matters

Draining wetlands was once seen as “improving” land. In reality, it often left soils unproductive, costly to manage, and prone to carbon loss.

Problems with drained wetlands:

• Waterlogged soils still hard to farm
• Peat shrinkage and carbon release
• Ongoing drain maintenance costs
• Higher downstream flood risk

Benefits of restoring wetlands:

• Land becomes self-sustaining rather than reliant on pumps
• Peat and wetland plants rebuild carbon stocks
• Grazing livestock thrive on rough pasture
• Water stored safely on land rather than flooding crops or villages

What Wetland Restoration Means for Farmers

Wet ground can be challenging to manage. Where the land and proposed management are eligible, wetland grazing support may help fund suitable habitat management. The practical and financial case needs to be assessed for the particular farm.

• Potential scheme payments – subject to an eligible agreement and compliance with its requirements
• Native breeds thrive – hardy cattle and ponies convert rough grazing into premium products
• Potential changes in input costs – assess management, livestock, fencing and water-control costs rather than assuming maintenance or expenditure will disappear
• Diversification – eco-tourism, bird hides, angling, wild product harvests
• ☀️ Climate resilience – wetlands buffer against floods and droughts

Instead of fighting the land, you can now work with it.

Funding and Support

Scheme payments and eligible capital items may contribute to a wetland project, but they do not guarantee a net gain or cover every cost. Confirm eligibility and the agreement requirements with the relevant scheme adviser, and compare the full implementation and ongoing management costs before committing.

SAS Aquatics can help you:

• Identify eligibility and funding opportunities
• Prepare practical supporting documents for the applicant or their appointed adviser
• Deliver the works and provide monitoring to show success

Ready to Start a Wetland Project?

If you own or manage land within 2 hours of Moretonhampstead, Devon, we’d love to discuss how the CWT12 supplement could help you create thriving wetlands that support both nature and your business.

Get in touch with the SAS Aquatics team today to explore how we can bring your wetland back to life.