By the 15th of May 2028, farmers and crofters in Scotland will need to have a Whole Farm Plan (WFP)  in place to continue to be eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). WFP’s have been introduced to serve as a ‘health check and improvement plan’. They have seven components: 

• A Carbon Audit for the entire farm enterprise. This includes calculating GHG emissions and identifying opportunities to reduce emissions and improve carbon sequestration. 

• Biodiversity Audit & Habitat Map using an approved classification schema e.g. – ScottishHab or UKHab 2.0. The aim is that key habitats will be identified, allowing farmers to better protect them. The habitat map will also identify potential areas for habitat enhancement. 
  
• Soil Health and Management Plan, including a soil sampling plan with interpretation on how farmers will maintain or improve soil quality. This plan will also identify risks, such as erosion and compaction. 
  
• As part of a Water Management Plan, water sources and their quality will be assessed. From here, plans to reduce runoff and pollution, plus opportunities to improve – protecting water sources, cutting runoff, improving efficiency.
  
• Animal health plan – for those with livestock.
  
• Pest management plan – keeping pests down with minimal environmental damage.
  
• Resource efficiency – using fertiliser, pesticides, and energy wisely.
  

For the Biodiversity Audit, every farmer and crofter needs to map the habitats on all of their permanently managed land. This means that seasonal land and common grazing areas are not included (though this could be subject to change). 

The habitat map produced must use an approved classification; though the Scottish Government has a preference for ScottishHab as it is built for Scotland’s unique and varied habitats, UKHab and JNCC Phase 1 are also accepted. 

What counts as a habitat?

There are 30 habitat types across 9 categories in the official list. The categories are:

• Cropped land
• Grassland
• Wetlands
• Woodlands
• Coastal
• Uplands & Peatlands
• Designated Sites 
• Linear Habitats 
• Other 

In terms of detail, you can technically select just the main habitat for each field. However, in the future more specific characterisation will be required. For example the broad classification of Grasslands will need to specify if they are improved, semi-improved, unimproved or rush pasture. 

How do you create a map? 

There are several options. You can create a paper map and send it to the Land Mapping team at ScotGov to upload. You also may be able to use existing audits if they meet the standards required and are valid on the BPS claim year; as habitat maps need updating every 5 years, the existing audit will need to have been completed within 5 years of the 15th of May, 2028. If you had an Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) contract from 2022, 2023, or 2024, the FEA maps should partially meet the required conditions, though they may need some updates to ensure they align to the habitat classification standards listed above. 

You can also create a habitat map online via LPIS, or have a provider do this for you. At Senus, we can produce a full farm habitat map in digital format for easy submission to the Scottish Government. We are approved by ScotGov and use the full list of required habitats and linear features recommended by NatureScot for habitat mapping. We are future proofing the habitat maps by creating the specific classifications that will be required very soon.

What’s the process with Senus?

We have an easy 4-step process:

1. Contact us at info@senus.com or imogen.turner@senus.com to get the ball rolling. We will need farm details so we can identify the full extent of your farm.
2. Our team of digitisers will create a habitat map.
3. We share the map with you, giving you the opportunity to review the map and add any comments on areas that need modification. Your feedback is then actioned by our team.
4. The final map is ready for submission to the Scottish Government. 

Beyond mandatory compliance, the biodiversity audit has additional benefits such as:

• Assessment of existing natural assets and identifying opportunities for enhancement, providing the foundation for more informed land management decisions. If those not yet engaged in the natural capital market, the WFP biodiversity audit is a practical first step, delivering the data needed to start exploring off-site BNG, biodiversity credits, and carbon credit schemes. 
• Linking directly to Scotland’s new tiered payment system. The more detailed the information in your biodiversity audit now, the more support you are likely to be able to access in the future. 
• Baseline data for biodiversity across your farm, giving an environmental ‘health check’. This intel, in conjunction with data collected across the other components of the WFH will allow you to better manage your land for your farm’s long-term resilience. 

Which Scottish Payment Schemes are linked to the WFP?

The BPS is just one scheme that the WFP is required for. There is also the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS), which offers capital grants aimed at improving environmental performance. The FFIS has included the WFP as a mandatory condition for access to new support schemes since the start of 2025 if you wish to access new support schemes.

Scotland has started the transition to a tiered-support model. Therefore, post-2025, farmers can anticipate that a completed WFP will be essential for accessing these tiers. Though the information is due to be finalised, it is understood that there will be 4 tiers. These are:  

• Tier 1 (Base Payment): direct payment for active land management and achieving climate/biodiversity standards. 
• Tier 2 (Enhanced Payment): direct payment for active land management and achieving climate/biodiversity standards. 
• Tier 3 (Elective): provides targeted action funding and professional development.
• Tier 4 (Complementary): provides targeted action funding and professional development.

In conclusion:

With the May 2028 deadline approaching, getting your Whole Farm Plan in place is essential to secure future support payments. The biodiversity audit and its required habitat map are a key part of this process. Senus can take the stress out of the process of producing a habitat map through our simple 4-step process, delivering a fully compliant map that also gives you valuable insights for managing and enhancing your land. Get in touch today to get started and ensure your WFP is ready on time.