Forestry Commission
Why mapping updates are needed
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) needs to make sure that all land data on its systems is up to date. We do this by checking the digital maps and updating them if necessary.
Information we use to check if an update is needed
We check and update digital land maps using information from the latest available data sources. These include site visits (inspections) and land imagery such as aerial photography and Ordnance Survey map updates as well as information received from customers. Read What we map for more information.
How we notify you that weve updated a land parcel
Its important that you check your digital maps online because we regularly review and update our mapping information. If we update your land parcels, you will receive notifications in the Messages tab in the Rural Payments service identifying which land parcels have been updated.
If you request a change to your digital maps, either by calling us or by sending an RLE1 form and sketch map to us, we will write to you. We will either confirm that weve made the changes you requested or we will explain why they cannot be made.
When were digital land maps checked and updated?
We carry out an annual review where we check, update and publish changes to digital land maps. These updates are usually made between December and February so that they are published before most customers start to apply for agri-environment schemes and/or the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
If you request a change to your digital maps after the annual map updates have been completed, we need to check the information you give us. We will also check the latest information we hold to decide if your digital map needs to be updated further. We do this to make sure your digital maps are as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
What you need to do
Its important that if you receive a notification through the Rural Payments service, you check your digital land maps and land parcel details. Its your responsibility to check your digital maps throughout the year and tell us if you do not agree with a change that weve made.
Changes weve made
What we map
We use digital maps to record physical land parcel boundaries and features for land parcels which will be included in applications and/or claims for some rural payments schemes. Find the list of these schemes and information on non-agricultural areas and features in the RLE1 guidance.
We define a land parcel as an area of land that is 0.0100 hectares or larger, and has physical boundaries.
Examples of physical boundaries are:
- hedges, walls, rivers, drains, ditches, roads
- obvious changes such as woodland next to grass
- watercourses if wider than 4 metres can sometimes be used as a boundary
- boundary stones and marker posts
Examples that we do not accept as boundaries:
- natural paths
-
temporary boundaries such as:
- temporary electric fences
- plough lines
- buffer areas between crops
Split land parcels
If a land parcel lies across a Less Favoured Area (LFA) boundary, we split the parcel in the digital map and record it as 2 separate parcels. The LFA boundaries are usually based on actual physical boundaries that are shown on Ordnance Survey maps. There are some exceptions to this.
Merged land parcels
We merge land parcels in the digital map when the permanent boundary is removed. We do not merge land parcels in the digital maps when the parcels are registered to different customers. In these cases the existing parcel boundaries in the digital map will not be changed.
Land cover
We record land cover in the digital maps but not land use. Land cover is not the same as land use. Land cover is a group of common land uses. There is one land use which has the same name as the land cover group permanent grassland.
The table below shows the 4 land cover groups and some examples of the land uses in each group:
| Land cover | Land use |
|---|---|
| Arable land | Winter wheat - Spring barley - Temporary grassland |
| Permanent grassland | Permanent grassland |
| Permanent crops | Nursery crops - Short rotation coppice - Lavender |
| Non-agricultural area | Farm building - Structure - Woodland - Non-agricultural BPS eligible area (RD01) |
Read the Non-agricultural land under certain agri-environment or woodland scheme agreements section of the Rural payments: land use codes 2022 for more information about non-agricultural BPS eligible areas.
Order of the changes
We only use information that is no more than one year old to carry out mapping updates. We review information from inspections and RLE1 forms as well as the latest land imagery. We decide if a digital map needs to be updated based on the latest information we hold.
Where you can see the updates
When you receive a mapping update notification through the Rural Payments service you need to check your digital maps so that you know what changes weve made. Using the Rural Payments service, you can see digital maps of all the land parcels registered to your holding.
What you can expect to see
Some of the updates may seem small and we appreciate that you may find this inconvenient. However, updates such as boundary changes, area changes or land cover changes can be important and can affect your agreements and/or payments.
In some cases, we may have to temporarily remove a feature to make the update. In these cases, a feature may disappear from the View land screen temporarily, but it reappears when the update is made.
For more information about scheme rules or how the changes might affect agri-environment schemes or Forestry Commission (FC) legacy schemes read the relevant guidance on the following pages on GOV.UK:
- Basic Payment Scheme (BPS)
- Countryside Stewardship (CS) or Environmental Stewardship (ES)
- Forestry Commission legacy schemes
How to check your digital land maps
You can see digital maps of all the land parcels registered to your holding using the Rural Payments service
- Go to: www.ruralpayments.service.gov.uk.
- From the Business overview screen, click Land then View land. This opens a new tab. If a new tab does not open, make sure you enable pop ups in the settings section of your internet browser.
- To view individual land parcel details select the land parcel you need. The Parcel details screen shows you a digital map and details of the land parcel. There is also a Photo option as well as the Map option.
You need to check that:
- all your land parcels are shown as linked to your SBI
- the permanent boundaries are shown correctly
- the land covers are shown correctly
- land has not been linked to your SBI by mistake
Where weve made a change and you believe the map or any of the details are incorrect you can call us.
If we agree this is an error in the mapping work we will change it. If the mapping work is correct but you do not agree with the work weve done, you will need to follow the instructions What to do if you do not agree with the updates.
If you believe the map or the details are incorrect because:
- youve made changes to the land that are not shown in your digital maps
- you disagree with a change weve made
you need to request a change to your digital maps read the information below.
If you are not sure why the change has been made, you can call us.
How to check and change your hedge information
The Rural l