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When land managers talk about “environmental land management,” they usually mean England’s ELMs schemes: the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Landscape Recovery (LR). This page explains how we help you deliver eligible actions and compile the evidence needed for claims and audits.
Great Oaks turns objectives into practical works, schedules and records. We align tasks to farming calendars and public access, then provide photo points, simple maps and seasonal notes that match scheme requirements. We do not give policy advice or quote payment rates; instead, we focus on buildable delivery and decision-ready evidence.
SFI is built around actions you select to suit your land. We handle delivery for common actions, including hedgerow management and gapping-up, margins and buffer strips, species-rich grassland establishment and cutting regimes, integrated weed and invasive control with biosecurity, and SuDS or wetland upkeep that improves water quality.
For capital items and management options, we install and maintain the things that keep claims moving: fencing and gates, watercourse margins, bank protection with soft engineering, native planting for hedges and woodland, ponds and scrapes, small boardwalks, steps, signage and path edges for safer visitor routes.
At landscape scale, our teams deliver planting at volume, wetland complexes and riparian improvements, invasive species programmes and access controls, supported by long-horizon monitoring so partners and funders can see progress.
Hedgerows and field margins: planting, gapping-up, formative pruning, guards, mulch, margin creation and edge definition.
Species-rich and low-input grassland: substrate preparation, seedbed creation, native seed mixes, establishment cuts and arisings handling.
Woodland and shelter belts: whips and standards, mixed spacing, mulch rings, beating up, protection and formative pruning.
Water and wetland features: profiling for ponds and scrapes, reedbed creation, coir rolls and geotextiles, plug planting, simple fencing and viewing points.
Access and interpretation: gates, steps, path edges, waymarking and light boardwalks to guide public use and protect habitats.
Invasive species and weed control: biosecurity-first programmes, proportional herbicide use by qualified operatives, and scheduled follow up.
If your option wording is specific, share it and we will map our deliverables to that exact requirement
Get in touch with Great Oaks today. We’re happy to answer any questions relating to arboriculture or grounds maintenance, or provide further info about our chainsaw courses.
What you will receive after delivery and during establishment:
Photo points before and after, with dates and simple keys that link to features or parcels.
Feature maps (PDF plus optional CAD/GIS layers) showing works, compartments and phases.
Seasonal notes that match the action or option requirements in plain language.
Maintenance records for cuts, grazing windows, invasive control and litter/waste handling.
Supplier details for native stock and materials where requested by funders.
We mirror the authority’s template wherever possible so information drops straight into a claim or audit pack.
Baseline and plan
We review objectives, parcels, constraints and scheme rules, then propose a phased plan with methods, quantities and realistic timings.
Preparation
Ground is prepared, protections are installed around retained trees and water, and materials and stock are scheduled for the correct windows.
Installation
Hedgerows, grassland, woodland and water features are delivered to specification. Guards, mulch and fencing secure establishment and guide access.
Establishment and monitoring
Seasonal visits cover watering, selective weed control and inspections. We update photo points and maps and provide short notes suitable for claims.
Buildable methods: details sized to real maintenance capacity, not wish lists.
Farming-aware scheduling: tasks sequenced around field operations and public use.
Integrated controls: invasive species and biosecurity planned from day one.
Evidence that fits: photo points, maps and notes formatted for fast submission.
Great Oaks is an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor. We hold Constructionline Gold, Once For All SSIP and ROSPA membership. Our consultants and operatives are qualified and insured, and we issue method statements for public-facing, near-water and machinery tasks.
Projects are delivered across Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, with regular schemes in Ribble Valley, Fylde, West Lancashire, South Lakeland, the West Pennine Moors and the Manchester fringe. We also support landowners in Preston, Lancaster, Blackpool, Blackburn, Burnley, Bolton, Wigan, Salford and Liverpool. Share your parcels and target windows and we will confirm attendance.
Can you align work to specific SFI actions or CS options?
Yes. Share the action/option wording and we will match deliverables and evidence to it.
Do you provide monitoring evidence for claims and audits?
Yes. You will receive dated photo points, simple maps and seasonal notes aligned to your scheme.
Will you source plants and materials?
Yes. We procure suitable native stock and materials and manage delivery and installation.
How do you manage invasive species risks?
Biosecurity is standard. We control invasives early and schedule follow up to reduce reinfestation.
Do you coordinate with advisers or ecologists?
Yes. We frequently deliver to third-party specifications and refine details to keep installation and maintenance practical.
Send your SBI, parcel map and target actions (SFI/CS/LR). We’ll propose a phased sequence that fits field operations, confirm the evidence you’ll receive (photo points, maps, seasonal notes), and lock in dates for installation and establishment visits.
To get in touch:
📞Call 07884 274693
✉️ Email office@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
🌐 Contact us online
Careers
Climbing, grounds maintenance and utility work.Climbing, grounds and utility work.
Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor.
Last minuteAvailability
Starts Monday 19 October 2026
3 days plus 1 for assessment
£9671 place
Entry requirements: Ground Based Chainsaw Operator and Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue
Book this date, Using a Chainsaw from a Rope and HarnessOr call the training office on 01772 369694
